Clipperton Hopes Rivet Aces Waratah Handicap In Happy Valley
Jockey Sam Clipperton hopes that a change of environment can help Gr.1 winner Rivet to a first Hong Kong victory when he makes his Happy Valley debut in the Class 2 Waratah Handicap (1650m).
Rivet, a winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy (1600m) at Doncaster in 2016, is yet to place from 10 Hong Kong starts.
The John Moore-trained galloper was bought as a Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender and finished fifth in the first two legs, the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), before finishing a well-beaten 12th in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) back in March. He was gelded three days after the Derby.
Last time out, Rivet finished fifth over the Sha Tin 1600m, two and a half lengths from Simply Brilliant, after jumping from a wide gate.
Wednesday will be the first time that the quirky galloper has left Sha Tin since his arrival in Hong Kong last year.
Rivet meets 11 rivals in the nightcap, including last-start winners Pretty Bauhinia (122lb) and Magnetism (118lb), as well as top-weight Calculation (132lb), second at his most recent run over 1200m on the Sha Tin all-weather track.
The night’s feature is the Class 3 Australian Turf Club Trophy Handicap (1200m). Douglas Whyte is set to partner Super Leader (120lb), a horse that he has ridden at 18 of his 29 starts, including to a last-time second behind Super Hoppy at the course and distance.
Also engaged in the trophy event are the Chris So-trained Prince Harmony (132lb), Francis Lui’s Shanghai Master (132lb), Bulb Elite (123lb) for Paul O’Sullivan and Zero Hedge (123lb), representing the John Size yard.
The Australian Turf Club Trophy is the sixth of eight races at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and is scheduled to jump at 9.45pm, with the opener, the Class 5 Balsamine Handicap (1000m), set down for 7.15pm.
Credit: HKJC