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Clipperton has an Ace up his sleeve at Happy Valley

04/10/2016

By Andrew Hawkins

Jockey Sam Clipperton is just beginning to hit his straps in Hong Kong on the back of a milestone treble at last Saturday’s (1 October) National Day Cup meeting, and he has high hopes that the horse that gave him his first local win, Ace King, can help him to another milestone in the midst of Wednesday’s (5 October) eight-race card at Happy Valley.

The youthful Australian rider will be out to score his first win at the tight city circuit, with all five of his Hong Kong wins so far coming at the larger Sha Tin track. And while he admitted he was still “buzzing” after Saturday’s three-timer on Sea Jade, Sensation and Turf Sprint, he had already turned his attention to trying to build on his total.

“The only word I can use to describe last Saturday is special,” Clipperton mused this morning (Tuesday, 4 October). “As I’ve said all along, it’s always been my dream to ride in Hong Kong so the good start I’ve had is very special and a privilege. It’s wonderful that I’m getting some great support from a variety of owners and trainers, particularly the three that I rode winners for on Saturday – John Moore, Benno Yung and Chris So, and they are just to name a few. It is hard work, but I enjoy it and it seems to be paying off.”

“I had to pinch myself yesterday, someone pointed out to me the current standings in the jockeys’ championship and I am sitting fifth just behind the last three champion riders – Joao Moreira, Zac Purton, Douglas Whyte. Even in Australia, I never liked to look at ladders or used tables to define my performance but that was a thrill, even if it is so early in the season.”

“I’m doing my best, I’m passionate and I’m already focused on trying to break through at Happy Valley tomorrow night. I have a couple of nice hopes, particularly Ace King.”

Peter Ho-trained Ace King (122lb) steps out in the night’s fourth event, the Class 4 KC. Intercontinental Limousine Handicap over 1200m. Purchased by Chan Ngan Chi for HK$3 million from the 2015 Hong Kong International Sale, the son of Exceed And Excel finished third on debut in October last year but was not in the placings again until his three and a half length victory over the straight 1000m at Sha Tin on 11 September.

“He’s been a work in progress, he certainly hasn’t been a push button horse for them,” he said. “Before his first-up win, I went back and watched all his replays and in every one of them, he was doing plenty wrong – but as he progressed, he did one less thing wrong each time. He just needed time to learn what to do. So when I jumped on him fresh, he was an easy ride – he jumped well, he put himself on speed, I was able to control the race and then he kicked away.”

“He’s the sort of horse who would have taken a lot of confidence from the win and, being first-up, he only would have improved for the run.”

Still, Clipperton feels that the four-year-old may not be entirely suited to the compact Happy Valley course, despite the fact he ran fourth at his one try at the track and distance in July.

“He’s a big horse, he has a lot of presence about him but he’s still a bit green so physically I’m not sure Happy Valley will suit and mentally, he just might not be ready to excel there.

“We’ve drawn wide so if I can jump him out cleanly and settle in the first half, he’s such a big striding horse that if I can get him around the corners and keep him balanced and he does everything right, he’s sure to be right there in the firing line. He did come from near last to run a good race at Happy Valley last season but I think he’s better suited being put up into the race, letting him know he’s in a contest.”

“There are queries, no doubt. Going up in class is a query but the way that he won in Class 5, going away from his opposition like he did, it was the win of a horse who has more in store. So I’m hopeful.”

The 22-year-old horseman believes he can break his Valley duck earlier in the night, though, when he is legged aboard Paul O’Sullivan’s Glamorous Ryder (126lb) in the curtain raiser, the Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap over 1800m.

“It looks a lottery, as these races can be, but I loved his first-up run over 1650m,” he quipped. “He gets out to the 1800m, and he’s won over this course and distance before, so he should be ready to fire here. He’s my main chance other than Ace King.”

Schofield hopes for Victory from lightly weighted Marvel

The night’s concluding race, the Class 3 New Lantao Bus Handicap (1200m), sees four horses beaten as heavy favourites last time out – Super Turbo, Regency Darling, Lucky Profit and Victory Marvel – looking to atone.

Chad Schofield jumps aboard promising Victory Marvel for Caspar Fownes, with regular rider Zac Purton unable to make the 114lb impost and instead partnering Super Turbo (130lb) for David Hall.

“Tomorrow night will be the first time I’ve sat on Victory Marvel,” Schofield said. “Both his races have been very good and he gets down from 132lb to 114lb. He looks to have a great turn of foot, so he definitely looks my main chance for the night.”

The competitive finale also sees reigning champion jockey Joao Moreira continue his association with Danny Shum-trained Lucky Profit, having won on him four times last season before partnering him into second when fresh.

“He’s a very nice horse, he has improved so much since I jumped aboard him for the first time,” Moreira said. “His first-up run was fantastic, he was second behind a horse (Hang’s Decision) that has finished second again since, so the form is there. He is feeling good from his trackwork and he came through that last run beautifully.”

The action kicks off at Happy Valley with the Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap (1800m) at 7.15pm.

Sam Clipperton steers Ace King to an impressive victory over the Sha Tin straight course earlier this season.
Photo 1:
Sam Clipperton steers Ace King to an impressive victory over the Sha Tin straight course earlier this season.

 

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