Simpson prepared the 4yr-old Art Major gelding Castellano to a maiden win at Forbury Park last night, as driver Blair Orange unleashed Castellano for a successful last shot at the field.
Simpson sourced the gelding from Motukarara horseman Murray Edmonds and decided to get a few workmates to buy in to the horse - the Bog manager Adam Richan, barman Greg Wilson and friend Declan Garvey.
Simpson knows about the highs and lows of racing, and realises some newcomers to racing ownership expect the results to come quickly.
''I'm just rapt for the boys because it was my idea to get them into it, and I'm just pleased it paid off for them,'' he said.
''It's hard when they don't know a lot about racing - last week it didn't get into the race, and [the run] probably looked average, but we went home and had a look at the race and he actually went really good.
''He's been getting better and better all the time - I've been really happy with him.''
One aspect of the win definitely needs some work before the next win - the high fives among the winning connections left a lot to be desired.
''They were shockers, weren't they,'' he said.
''One thing I will say is they will get better tonight by the early hours of this morning.''
Waikouaiti trainer Andrew Faulks was not throwing out high fives after Lady Hest's win, but he was quietly satisfied after the Armbro Invasion mare put the complete game together to step out of maiden grade in the hands of driver Dexter Dunn.
Lady Hest had problems in her hind legs that needed to be ironed out before she could show her best at the races.
''She was a bit sore and Dexter said she'd be jogging a couple of times then get to a bend and just get her head around and get off balance,'' Faulks said.
''I think being in front helped because she's a dour sort of a stayer and doesn't like having anything to get past.''
Faulks prepares Lady Hest for Shirley Campbell, of Dunedin, and Joan Paul, Katrina Noone and Kathy Dennison, all of Palmerston.
Faulks had a perfect record on the night, as Aveross Rustler won the last race on the card.
Montecrengle's competitive nature was almost his undoing last night, as he repeated the pulling habits that he showed at the trials.
His trainer, Graeme Anderson, said he started the son of Christian Cullen only because he drew the second line, which he hoped would relax the gelding, but he proved a handful for driver Dexter Dunn last night.
The 7yr-old was still good enough to overcome Delightful Song in the final strides before the post.
