Kembla Grange Racecourse

1 week ago

RACEDAY REVIEW 25/06/2020

Jockey Sam Clipperton put an exclamation mark on a winning treble on Thursday as he helped unveil a potential star of the future for Peter and Paul Snowden at Kembla Grange.
Clipperton was the star of the show at the Illawarra Turf Club and started the day on the perfect note when he scored a dominant win aboard first starter Sahra.
The Hinchinbrook filly, which missed out on reaching her reserve of $150,000 at the Inglis Yearling Sales, showed she would have been worth the price tag when she raced away with the Jack Primmer Electronics 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
Sahra ($4.80) had kicked 3-1/4 lengths clear by the time Clipperton had reached the post with runner up Free State a further four lengths clear of Theresa Bateup’s Divine Breath.
Clipperton spoke highly of the Snowdens’ filly after the race but his work at Kembla was far from done.
He struck again less than an hour later aboard the Joseph Pride-trained Stargirl in the Pages Hire 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).
But Clipperton needed to survive a protest to chalk up his double.
Stargirl , which had previously be conditioned by Kembla trainer Gwenda Markwell, was wayward over the final 200m and caused interference to stablemate El Cohete.
Racing NSW Stewards didn’t deem the incident severe enough to strip Stargirl of the result however Clipperton was reprimanded for his role in the interference.
Clipperton’s treble came in tense circumstances as well after only arriving his final strides to help Kembla trainer Graeme Murray get on the board.
The Murray-trained Rafha’s Choice ($5.50) surged down the outside to gun down the Bjorn Baker-trained Matowatakpe ($4.60 fav) and Gwenda Markwell’s Charm Offensive ($6) in a desperately tight photo finish.
The win of the day undoubtedly went to the impressive Stormy Rock.
Trainer Matt Dunn made his way down from his Murwillumbah near the border of NSW and Queensland to see the filly run and she didn’t disappoint.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy had a sit and steer job as Stormy Rock ($2.30 fav) scored by a widening 4-1/2 lengths in the Dean Industrial Maiden Handicap (1200m).
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