At just 12 years of age, Zac Sample is the youngest rider to tackle the Tom Quilty Gold Cup this year

© Sarah Sullivan Photography

By Hayley Kennedy

Kids across the state will return to school next week with stories of the adventures they had over the holidays, but few will be as exciting as those of Zac and Matthew Sample.?

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the boys will join more than 300 other riders and their horses as they take to the tracks of the Imbil State Forest on the Sunshine Coast to tackle Australia's most prestigious endurance ride, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.?

At just 12 years of age, Zac is the youngest competitor this year and it will be the first time he and brother Matthew, 15, get to take part in the challenging 160 kilometre ride.

Zac said he and his horse Brookleigh Milo had both been training hard to be ready for the weekend. ?

"What I love about it (endurance) is just being with your horse and being out in the forestry," Zac said.

"I leave all my other thoughts behind, I just love it and I take away a really nice experience."

With their dad Brook having seven Tom Quilty Gold Cup wins to his name, Matthew said growing up around endurance racing had instilled in him a great love of the sport.

"What I like about endurance racing is that it's very unpredictable, anything can happen on the track," he said.?

"You create a great connection with your horse, it's mentally and physically challenging and it's a great sport”…

Click here to continue reading this article, which first appeared on the Queensland Country Life website.

Source: Queensland Country Life

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