Sam Clipperton has put the icing on the cake to a remarkable season, surpassing his previous best tally of Sydney metropolitan winners with an early double at Randwick.
Clipperton guided two-year-old Midnight In Tokyo to victory in the opening event to equal his previous mark of 43, which he achieved in 2015-16, before going one better when successful aboard La Chevalee in the Chandon Handicap (2000m).
He racked up the milestone despite spending a chunk of the season sidelined with injury and also managed to celebrate success at the top level, capturing his third Group 1 in the Doomben 10,000 on Mazu and finishing runner-up on Best Of Bordeaux in the Golden Slipper.
“It has been a good season,” Clipperton said.
“I missed three months of it with my jaw wired up so I might have got to 50.
“It does give me confidence going into the next season.
“I’m having two weeks off after today but then it’s full swing for the spring.”
Clipperton settled La Chevalee in a beautiful position trailing the speed before angling off the fence in the straight and chasing down So United to score by a half-length with Philipsburg another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
The ride was in contrast to his win aboard Midnight In Tokyo, who got back and charged late.
A two-time Sydney champion apprentice, Clipperton spent 2-1/2 years riding in Hong Kong before returning home at the start of 2019 and is now firmly ensconced among the city’s top-10 jockeys.
