Marsham Going The Distance To Prepare Sammy For Cox Plate

Newcastle Herald

Saturday October 25, 2008

By GEOFF WILSON

CHERIE Marsham can testify just how far and where a good horse can take you.

That is a very long journey indeed for this devoted horsewoman.

Marsham will walk proudly onto Moonee Valley today when she leads her "pet" Samantha Miss into the saddling enclosure.

Her dedication and love will go on show in the shape of the mighty and flighty filly from Newcastle as she prepares for battle against the best in the weight-for-age championship of Australia the Cox Plate.

Marsham has been along for the ride since Samantha Miss first showed potential by winning on debut in Sydney.

She has cared for and worried over Samantha Miss as she progressed to be the best filly in the land.

She could never have dreamed of such a fantastic journey when she first hit Newcastle a couple of years ago.

Marsham came to Newcastle as the strapper of Star Shiraz, which was down from the Toowoomba stables of Rex Lipp.

Lipp was using Broadmeadow as his southern base for Star Shiraz while she targeted the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill as her group 1 mission.

The filly went on to run second in the Coolmore.

But instead of returning to Toowoomba and continuing her life up north, Marsham had a bolder plan.

"I fell in love with Newcastle and wanted to come back," she said.

"Star Shiraz was staying with the Kris Lees stable, and I rang and asked if there was any chance of a job.

"Kris gave me a chance, so I came back south."

She was entrusted with Samantha Miss when the $1.5 million filly first walked into the Lees yard.

"Cherie is dedicated and I thought she would do a good job with the filly, and that is exactly what has happened," Lees said.

"She is totally devoted to the filly, and her care has helped Samantha Miss blossom."

So now the entire Lees camp gets the thrill of Cox Plate competition.

"There will be some nervous Novocastrians," Lees said.

"I could not believe how much attention this filly has copped.

"I don't just mean from the media, I have been getting emails and faxes and phone calls from people back home wishing us luck.

"That is fantastic. It really makes me proud of the filly. It seems people have taken her to heart, and let's just hope she can do us proud on Saturday."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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