It was the Sam Clipperton show at Wyong on Saturday, the multiple Group 1 winning jockey booting home a treble.
Clipperton, who claimed last year’s $20 million The Everest on the recently retired Think About It, was a regular fixture on the Saturday Metropolitan circuit, but a dearth of talent in the jockey ranks has seens him ride more recently at provincial meetings.
He certainly left his stamp at Wyong, with three wins and a close second from his six rides.
His first win came on the John Sargent trained Coto De Caza in the opening event, the 2000m BM64.
Clipperton made an early move, when he was unhappy with the slow tempo, hitting the lead around the 1400m mark. Despite strong challenges in the straight, he pulled away in the final stages to win by more than two lengths.
He made it a race to race double in the 1600m Class1 on Pasima from the powerful Ciaron Maher stable.
The Pierro entire appreciated a drop back to provincial grade, winning by more than two lengths.
It was another powerful, front running ride by Clipperton to secure victory for the four-year-old whose connections purchased him for $1.5million at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sales.
Stable representative Liam Ruddy said they had been confident heading into the race.
“He had been racing well in stronger company and on form this looked like a good race for him. He was rock hard fit and ready to go.”
Clipperton rounded off his winning treble in the 1200m Midway Maiden, riding Revolt to victory for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
It was another perfectly timed front running ride by Clipperton to bring up his third win.
Revolt was another Magic Millions purchase, with Kia Ora Stud and Ryan/Alexiou parting with $500,000 to secure the colt.
His breakthrough Wyong win coming at just his second career start.
Clipperton’s winning day took him to 15 victories for the 2024/25 season, the three at Wyong taking him to second in the local Jockey’s Premiership.
Ciarron Maher took out the training honours with a double, Louise Day riding his second winner Majestuoso Phoenix to victory in the 1000m Maiden.
The stable has a high opinion of the Australian Bloodstock three-year-old who broke through on debut following two trials.
It was a huge Saturday for the Maher stable, who along with the Wyong double, claimed the $1m The Gong at Kembla with Gringotts, Glided Water also successful on the same program.
Maher winning a second $1m race, the Meteorite at Cranbourne, with Nadal.
A large crowd was on track for the Wyong meeting, with a plenty of groups enjoying Christmas parties and shopping at a number of on course market stalls.
Our next meeting will be the annual Magic Millions Race Day on Wednesday, December 11, featuring the $200,000 2YO Classic and $150,000 3YO & 4YO Stakes.
