Jockey Sam Clipperton, the champion apprentice in New South Wales in 2012/13 and 2013/14 and currently a top-10 rider in Sydney, has been licenced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride in the jurisdiction from 11 July through 3 December 2016.
Apprenticed to Hall of Fame trainer Ron Quinton, Clipperton recorded the first notable victory of his career at age 17 in 2011 when he partnered with Monton (Aus) (Catbird {Aus}) to win the Festival S. at Rosehill. After breaking into the ranks of journeyman jockeys, Clipperton rode extensively for Godolphin and trainer John O'Shea and has ridden no fewer than five Group 2 winners for that team.
Winner of 354 races thus far in his career, Clipperton was sitting on 42 metropolitan wins in Sydney for a strike rate of 11.2% and earned his maiden Group 1 winner during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival atop Peeping (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) for Quinton in the Coolmore Classic. A week later he guided English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) to win the G1 All-Aged S. for trainer Gai Waterhouse.
Clipperton has advised Hong Kong Jockey Club officials that his minimum riding weight will be 117 pounds, allowing him to accept rides at 115 with a permitted two-pound overweight.
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