![Sam Clipperton celebrates his biggest win since returning to riding as Juja Kibo claims The Metropolitan at Randwick. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2370859.jpg)
The Metropolitan’s downgrade to Group 2 status wasn’t an issue for jockey Sam Clipperton after he scored his biggest win since coming out of retirement when successful aboard Juja Kibo in the Randwick staying feature.
Clipperton hung up his saddle just over a year after he captured the 2023 Everest on Think About It before making the decision to riding return late last year.
While Juja Kibo’s Metropolitan (2400m) triumph would have counted as a Group 1 in the past, Clipperton was nonetheless delighted to be back in the winner’s stall on one of the most prestigious days of the Sydney spring.
JUJA KIBO wins the Metropolitan!
Sam Clipperton picks up a Group 2 on the @cmaherracing stayer at Randwick, sitting in a stalking role and racing clear to beat Aethelwulf with topweight The Euphrates in third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/VExjvI6Qoo
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 3, 2026
“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 hadn’t won for more than a year, but he did finish third in the corresponding race last year and had notched a handful of stakes placings since.
Jo Gerard-Dubord, assistant to trainer Ciaron Maher, said Saturday’s Randwick feature had been a targeted plan and they were confident after the six-year-old’s last start second in the 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 said Juja Kibo’s win had all but booked the horse his passage south where the Melbourne Cup would be his likely aim.
“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 ($5.50) stalked the speed and pounced in the straight to score by 1-2/4 lengths over Aethelwulf ($2.80 fav) with leader The Euphrates ($4.20) holding down third, another two lengths away.
Aethelwulf’s jockey, Zac Lloyd, said the shape of the race didn’t suit his mount.
“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.”
