Sam Thornley just keeps winning
Sam Thornley is having quite a run.
The 24-year-old has driven 20 winners since June 19, with at least one victory every week for almost 10 weeks. His latest came with Kotare Argent at Rangiora on Sunday.
Not that Thornley had been keeping count.
“I wasn’t aware of it, I don’t look into that too much,” he says. “But it has been a great run. Can’t complain.”
This is Thornley’s first season as an open driver after finishing his junior career in 2025 with a personal-best 70 wins.
So far in 2026, he has 48 wins on the board and is hoping there are plenty more to come.
“I always aim to do better than I did the previous year, so here’s hoping.”
The streak has included a treble at Addington on July 26 with DJ’s Gamble, Kotare Argent and Dance Hall Girl, along with three separate doubles during July and August.
But Thornley is reluctant to take too much credit for the run.
“I’m just lucky I get the right horses. Very lucky.”
“It’s about getting the right draws and a good run.”
“I just win as many as I can and then look forward to the next one.”
One horse in particular has played a big part in the streak.
Thornley has driven Kotare Rimu to three wins during the run, including victories at Addington on June 19, July 3 and July 17.
“All the wins with Kotare Rimu have been the best ones,” Thornley says. “He’s a very nice horse. One of the better three-year-olds in the country.”
“He’s probably the best one I’ve driven.”
Thornley’s winners over the past couple of months have come for a range of trainers, with victories at Addington, Ashburton and Rangiora.
And while other leading drivers have recorded more wins during the same period, none has matched Thornley’s week-after-week consistency.
For now, he is not looking too far ahead.
“I just hope we can keep it going.”