Sam Clipperton makes triumphant return with Group 2 Metropolitan win on Juja Kibo

Jockey Sam Clipperton marked his most significant success since his return from retirement by guiding Juja Kibo to victory in the Randwick staying feature, The Metropolitan, a race now designated as Group 2.

Clipperton had stepped away from the saddle just over a year after his 2023 Everest triumph on Think About It, but subsequently decided to recommence his riding career late last year.

While Juja Kibo's win in The Metropolitan (2400m) would have been a Group 1 event previously, Clipperton was visibly thrilled to be back in the winner's enclosure on one of Sydney's premier spring racing days.

"That's all right. Pretty sure the prizemoney is the same," Clipperton quipped.

"All that aside, I'm delighted to get this horse home.

"I've been riding him throughout the 'prep'. He has been building for a big performance. Lovely to be able to stay on these horses on these big days and get the job done."

Juja Kibo had not won a race for over twelve months, though he had managed a third-place finish in the same race the previous year and secured multiple stakes placings in the interim.

Jo Gerard-Dubord, acting as assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher, revealed that Saturday's Randwick race had been a planned target, and the team was confident following the six-year-old's second-place performance in the recent Kingston Town Quality (2000m).

"It has been the plan all along to get him here third-up and try to have him peaking. After his last run two weeks ago we thought we were right on track," Gerard-Dubord said.

"He still had plenty of improvement to come. He was very wintery that day and since then, he has really blossomed. He looks ten times better and that extra run under his belt, a bit of give in the track, was just ideal for him today. We had a good barrier and perfect ride from Sam."

Gerard-Dubord added that Juja Kibo's victory had effectively paved the way for a trip south, with the Melbourne Cup being the most likely target.

"On the back of that, you have to look at Victoria. The St Leger is up here but Victoria is very enticing," he said.

"We'd love to see where he fits in. If he was going to run in the Melbourne Cup, whether you have to go through Caulfield (Cup) or not we'll have to see, but we'll definitely have a look at that.

"The Melbourne Cup is probably the one we want to get to. We'll see how he pulls up first and see the best way to get there."

Juja Kibo, starting at $5.50, followed the pace before launching his challenge in the straight to win by a length and a half over Aethelwulf ($2.80 favourite), with the frontrunner The Euphrates ($4.20) holding on for third place, another two lengths further back.

Zac Lloyd, jockey of Aethelwulf, noted that the race's dynamics were not conducive to his mount's racing style.

"They didn't go quickly today. It was a sit and sprint," Lloyd said.

"That suited the winner more than us. He has gone well again."

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