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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted the hearing of a charged issued against licensed jockey Sam Clipperton in respect to his riding of Irish Songs in Race 3 on the Kensington Track on Saturday, 17 August 2019.

Sam Clipperton was found guilty of the following charge under AR129(2) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures on Irish Songs throughout the said race to ensure that Irish Songs was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field in that by reason of all or part of the following particulars;

1. That after entering the home straight towards the rear of the field and approximately 6 lengths from the leaders, he positioned Irish Songs behind Pandemic resulting in Irish Songs losing further ground from the leaders, when at all times after entering the home straight, it was reasonable and permissible to improve Irish Song’s position to the inside of Pandemic.

2. That between approximately the 350m and 250m, after Pandemic had shifted out to improve, he failed to ride his mount with sufficient vigour and purpose to improve forward and place Irish Songs in a more competitive position in the race when it was reasonable and permissible for him to do so.

3. Between approximately the 250m and 100m, when a clear run was available directly in front of Irish Songs between All Cylinders and Making Whoopee he failed to ride his mount with sufficient purpose and vigour to improve into that run, when it was reasonable and permissible for him to do so.

4. Near the 100m he shifted Irish Songs to the outside of Making Whoopee when a clear run remained available directly in advance of Irish Songs between All Cylinders and Making Whoopee, when it was reasonable and permissible for him to ride his mount with sufficient purpose and vigour to improve between All Cylinders and Making Whoopee.

As a result of his failure to ride Irish Songs in a manner as detailed in particulars 1 to 4, Irish Songs was not given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field.

Penalty
Having considered relevant matters in respect to penalty, including this was the first occasion Sam Clipperton had been found guilty of a similar offence in 9 years of riding, his licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 1 month to commence on Thursday, 12 September 2019 and to expire on Saturday, 12 October 2019 on which day he may ride.

Relevant Rule
AR129 Running and handling
A rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.

- M F Van Gestel (Chairman of Stewards/General Manager-Integrity)