![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)
A weight penalty for Juja Kibo’s Moonee Valley Cup win will make Sam Clipperton’s Melbourne Cup Day more comfortable, but the jockey had committed to the in-form stayer regardless.
Clipperton, who normally rides around 55kg, had already started preparations to partner Juja Kibo at 53.5kg, and the 1.5kg penalty the horse received for his sweeping last start success was a 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 said.
“Now he’s got 55, so I’ll be feeling dangerous on Tuesday.”
Clipperton has been aboard Juja Kibo in all four starts this preparation, highlighted by victories at his past two in the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick and Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Flemington.
While the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer finished midfield at his only two-mile start in the Sydney Cup, Clipperton says 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’s that performance arc that underpins Clipperton’s confidence in Juja Kibo.
From placings in the Rowley Mile (1600m) and Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) to start his campaign, the horse has continued to raise the bar.
He will have to lift again if he’s 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 said.
“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 to 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 said.
“I’ve had a bit of experience at Flemington now. I’m so excited.”
