Clipperton enjoys new outlook on racing

Emerging jockey Sam Clipperton has credited a sports psychologist for saving his autumn carnival.

As he prepares to ride one of the main threats to the ATC Australia Derby favourite Tarzino, Clipperton revealed how he sought advice from outside racing after whip rule infringements cost him back-to-back suspensions.

“I had a sports psychologist helping me there for a bit, down in Melbourne, and she just gave me some tips … little tricks to try to break the habit,” Clipperton told AAP.

“It seems to have paid off.”

Clipperton’s preparedness to find a solution to mend his ways returned an instant dividend when the 22-year-old landed his first Group One win last month.

And in the next race after his Coolmore Classic victory on Peeping for former master Ron Quinton, Clipperton won the Ajax Stakes on It’s Somewhat to cap his best day in the saddle.

It might be a turning point in a career that could go to another level at Randwick on Saturday where Clipperton’s three Group One rides include Godolphin’s young stayer Etymology in the Derby.

“I’ve probably been trying to make things happen a bit too quickly as well as trying to make things happen that I can’t necessarily control,” Clipperton said.

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“We’re all hungry in the (jockeys’) room but being a young jockey trying to crack the big time I’m particularly hungry for success.

“I’ve had to learn to take a step back and let things take their natural course and obviously that big day where I won the Coolmore and the Ajax, that was a big confidence boost.”

When James McDonald went with stablemate Tally as his Derby ride, it left Clipperton to happily to take the mount on the forgotten horse of the Classic.

As runner-up to Tarzino in the Victoria Derby, Etymology looms as one of the proven horses over the Derby distance.

And Clipperton says the brightness in the three-year-old’s trackwork shows he is on target to run his best race of the autumn.

“He’s primed and ready to go and he will be well presented on Saturday so I expect him to run a good race,” Clipperton said.

“I worked him on Tuesday and he worked particularly well, very sharp for a stayer. And if the track stays on the soft side that will help.”

Clipperton gives Chimboraa better than an outsider’s chance in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes while he will ride Godolphin sprinter Knoydart in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes.

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