Sam Clipperton guides Cigar Flick to success at Rosehill despite having minimal vision in very testing conditions

Jockey Sam Clipperton only had a small clear speck on his goggles to see through as he rode Cigar Flick to a breakthrough win at Rosehill.

A mud splattered Sam Clipperton returns after guiding Cigar Flick to victory at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Sam Clipperton provided a frightening account of his winning ride on Cigar Flick before heavy rain and deteriorating track conditions forced stewards to call off the final five races of the Rosehill Gardens meeting on Saturday.

With his face covered in mud after winning on Cigar Flick in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1100m), Clipperton revealed visibility had become a safety issue for jockeys.

“I couldn’t see out of my goggles but I didn’t want to pull them down because she (Cigar Flick) was travelling really well,” Clipperton said.

“So I had to turn my head to the side and look out of a little clear speck (of my goggles) for most of the race.

“The rain is getting heavier and although the track is somewhat safe, the visibility is, I wouldn’t even say minimal, it is non-existent.

Cigar Flick with a big win! 😱

She relishes the Heavy 9 track at [e-mail]/HOB5JmFAj7

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 1, 2024

• Franz Josef earns a shot at stakes races with stylish Rosehill win

“It’s a shame because the track has had a good rest and if it was just on and off drizzle it would be no worries at all.

“But when they came out of the chute (near the 700m) at speed and hit the worn part of the track, there was a lot of mud and spray.”

Clipperton and senior jockeys Kerrin McEvoy, Jay Ford and Josh Parr, met with stewards immediately after the fifth race to determine if the meeting could proceed.

McEvoy, who won on Franz Josef in the previous race at his first Sydney Saturday meeting since he was injured on Golden Slipper Day, told stewards the track surface was deteriorating but visibility was even worse.

“I would love to stay riding but visibility is a problem now,” McEvoy said.

Ford rode unplaced Miss Emma in the race won by Cigar Flick and revealed to stewards he also had difficulty seeing after the first 400m.

“From the 700m in, visibility is very poor,” Ford said.

Josh Parr told stewards although he didn’t ride in Cigar Flick’s race, he respected the opinions of McEvoy, Clipperton and Ford.

After considering what the four jockeys had told stewards, Railton had no option but to call off the final five races on the program including the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m).

Racing NSW and Australian Turf Club officials will meet on Monday to decide if the Lord Mayor’s Cup, in particular, could be rescheduled and perhaps added to the Bob Charley Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

Clipperton won The Everest on Think About It earlier in the season but it has been slim pickings for the jockey this year with Cigar Flick his first city winner since January.

It was ironic that Cigar Flick ($19) broke the jockey’s Sydney winning drought with her runaway two-and-a-half lengths success in pouring rain.

Emirate makes it two from two and wins at Rosehill!@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/EkquEeK8GG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024

• Impressive Emirate puts rivals away with effortless win

Left Field ($6), ridden by McEvoy, ran on for second placing with another two-and-a-quarter lengths to Diamond Model ($19) third.

In Flight ($3.40 favourite) appeared to struggle in the heavy conditions before fading to run seventh.

Cigar Flick gave trainer Chris Waller two wins on the abbreviated program after boom two-year-old Emirate bolted home in the Ranvet Handicap earlier in the day.

Stable representative Damien Fitton said Waller had called him from Brisbane to consider scratching Cigar Flick due to the wet track.

“I told Chris the saddle has already gone on Cigar Flick so fortunately we decided to run,” Fitton said.

“She has won on a heavy track before but I think she has lacked confidence lately.

“Her run two starts back was enormous but then she went to Scone and her run was just a pass mark.

“She has worked well since, she got a beautiful ride by Sam (Clipperton) who got her to switch off early when the speed was on, and then he found the right part of the track and was strong late.”

Cigar Flick is part-owned by Debbie Kepitis who also races Fangirl and Riff Rocket.

The outstanding duo have just returned to pre-training in preparation for the spring carnival.

Fangirl, winner of the Winx Stakes and King Charles III Stakes at Group 1 level earlier this season, missed the majority of the autumn carnival due to a leg wound.

But she has made a complete recovery from the injury and is expected to be aimed at the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Everest Day, October 19.

Riff Rocket won three Group 1 races during the season – Victoria Derby, Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby – and could emerge as a weight-for-age star next season.

Originally published as Sam Clipperton guides Cigar Flick to success at Rosehill despite having minimal vision in very testing conditions