After an excellent start to the 2014/15 season, which sees him firmly entrenched in the top ten of the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership, Sam Clipperton has been rewarded with a Group l ride, and a genuine one at that, on the Chris McNab trained Trepidation in Saturday’s $250,000 ($NZ) J&N Berkett Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham, New Zealand.
Many in the know would tell you that through hard work, Clipperton was always going to make it as a rider, and the 20 year old has indeed put in the hard yards since becoming a senior hoop at the start of the season, getting good results for some of the biggest names in the industry.
“Things have been going really well lately,” Clipperton told Justhorseracing.
“It’s always a difficult stage in a jockeys career moving into the senior ranks, but the last few months have been really good and I have been getting plenty of good support off trainers and owners which is vital.”
The most notable supporter of the youngster has been head trainer of Godolphin, John O’Shea. Clipperton is the first to admit how important the racing giant has been in setting himself up after his apprenticeship.
“John O’Shea and Godolphin have been an amazing support to me,” He said.
“The support they give me is a huge reason I have been able to make a smooth transition into the senior riding ranks.”
“It’s a privilege to be able to ride for such a big operation.”
His outstanding form has seen him got the call up from McNab and owners Windsor Park Stud to ride the six year old mare Trepidation this weekend across the Tasman in the Telegraph. The daughter of Falkirk caught the eye of every on looker in the Railway at Ellerslie with her slashing fourth, and bookies in New Zealand have her a $9 chance.
“I got the ride on Trepidation as I am able to ride light (53kg),” Clipperton said.
“I am very grateful for getting the ride from Chris McNab and Windsor Park Stud and I’m really looking forward to the experience as I have never ridden in New Zealand.”
Clipperton is very much a man who sets goals and goes about in achieving them, and that certainly is the case for this season.
“This year I have a lot of goals I would love to achieve,” He said.
“But my main aim is to continue to work as hard as possible and cement myself up there with the top riders in Sydney such as Hugh Bowman, Blake Shinn and James McDonald just to name a few.”