Campton joins fight against breast cancer

By Glenn Davis

Cancer can strike in many ways and is a disease close to the heart of premier Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton.

The young training gun has thrown his support behind the Gold Coast Turf Club’s annual breast cancer fund raising race day on Saturday with a two-pronged attack in the Pink Ribbon Cup.

Campton will saddle up Caderas – an Angela Jones mount – and Catwalk Criminal, who will be ridden by Emily Lang, in the 1200 metre Benchmark feature.

Campton revealed his mother, Trish, who lives in Sydney, was once struck down with bowel cancer but has fought off the disease.

“The club does a super job fund raising for breast cancer,” Campton said.

“My mum never had breast cancer but she’s had bowel cancer so I know what it’s like to have a family member suffering from the disease.

“I’ve got a mother, a sister and fiancé so I know how important it is to raise money for breast cancer.

“I’m fortunate as mum is in her 15th year of remission so it will be a special day if we can get a winner in the Pink Ribbon Cup.”

Campton is only in his fourth season of training and showed he’s a star in the making after claiming his first trainers’ title at the Gold Coast last season.

“It was a huge thrill to win the trainers’ premiership and hopefully I can do it again this season,” Campton said.

Campton has 48 horses in work but is in the process of acquiring more stables at the Gold Coast.

He’s confident both Caderas and Catwalk Criminal will be competitive after drawing favourably.

Catwalk Criminal was a first-up winner at Ipswich last month and was run down late when second in an 1110 metre Class 3 Plate at Doomben on September 7.

“Catwalk Criminal is a nice mare but she’s had a lot of issues and is building a good record,” Campton said.

“This is a tougher race for her but she gets in well at the weights and is cherry ripe for her third run up on her home track.”

Caderas has raced on the Polytrack at her past two appearances at the Gold Coast and is coming off a last start fourth in a 1050 metre Benchmark race in late August.

“Her trial win with blinkers on was super and she also gets in well at the weights,” Campton said.

“Caderas is tough as nails but she’s not a good traveller that’s why she races a lot on her home track.

"She’s got a lot of ability and she’ll be very hard to beat.”