The weight penalty for Juja Kibo’s Moonee Valley Cup win will make Sam Clipperton’s Melbourne Cup Day more comfortable, though the jockey had already committed to the in-form stayer regardless.
Clipperton, who typically rides around 55kg, had already commenced preparations to partner Juja Kibo at 53.5kg. The 1.5kg penalty the horse received for its sweeping last-start success was therefore a welcome bonus.
“I said to them, ‘I’ll ride him at 53-1/2 if he gets in without the penalty. I was committed, so my weight is already good,” Clipperton explained. “Now he’s got 55, so I’ll be feeling dangerous on Tuesday.”.
Clipperton has been aboard Juja Kibo for all four of its starts this preparation, including victories at its past two starts in the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick and the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Flemington.
Although the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer finished midfield in its only two-mile attempt in the Sydney Cup, Clipperton believes Juja Kibo is a different horse this spring.
“You can say they’ll run two-miles all you want, but I think he is incredibly clean-winded and last start, I couldn’t pull him up until way over the back near the 1400. I think he’ll be no dramas,” he said. “It’s the right time now. Last spring he was nearly the early favourite for the ‘Metrop’ and ran third. He wasn’t quite seasoned. In the autumn, he wasn’t going that well and he was still running some placings. This time around, he’s really seasoned and has improved every run.”.
It is this performance arc that underpins Clipperton’s confidence in Juja Kibo.
From placings in the Rowley Mile (1600m) and Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) to commence his campaign, the horse has continued to raise the bar.
He will have to lift again if he is to figure in the finish of Australia’s most famous race, but Clipperton is confident he can.
“I have a lot of belief in him. Every time I’ve ridden him, he’s improved,” Clipperton stated. “He’s had a beautiful foundation for the two-miles, and he’s had the right lead-ups. He’s a horse who, in himself, is full of confidence and he’s so push-button. There’s no locked in pattern with him. He doesn’t have to have things go his way. He can adapt, which is so important. He switches off and he’s got a turn of foot. He ticks a lot of boxes. All things being even, he’ll run the race of his life on Tuesday.”.
Juja Kibo will be Clipperton’s second Melbourne Cup ride, his other being Stockman, who finished eighth behind Gold Trip in 2022.
The hoop regards his latest mount as a classier animal, and himself a more accomplished rider.
“If Stockman can run eighth, nothing against beautiful Stockman, but he didn’t have the attributes of Juja Kibo,” Clipperton commented. “I’ve had a bit of experience at Flemington now. I’m so excited.”.
Fans keen on Juja Kibo’s chances can examine the latest racing odds at leading betting sites.