A suspension to Chad Schofield has prompted David Payne to call on his stable apprentice’s nearest challenger in the premiership battle.
Payne has booked Sam Clipperton to ride three-year-olds Al’s Magic Miss and Prosperity Aethon at Canterbury on Saturday.
Fellow apprentice Shaun Guymer will partner the Payne stable’s other runner Diamond Jim.
Clipperton notched a victory for Payne aboard Bushcraft at Warwick Farm on Thursday as part of a winning double which took the apprentice’s season tally in Sydney to 16, 11 wins shy of Schofield.
“Obviously I’m only getting these rides (from Payne) while Chad is out but I’ve just got to try to make the most of it and it’s great to be getting the support of trainers,” Clipperton said.
Al’s Magic Miss is in line for a start in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on February 18 if she races to expectations in Saturday’s International Animal Health Handicap (1100m).
The sprinting filly chased home the speedy Social Rank when second over 1000m at Warwick Farm first-up and is expected to improve from that run on Saturday.
“It was a good run from her last start,” Clipperton said.
“I rode La Remlap in that race and she finished third.
“She’s drawn a bit tricky in the outside barrier (eight) but she should have the speed to work into a nice spot and she should run well.”
Al’s Magic Miss is the $3.20 favourite with TAB Sportsbet while one of her main rivals Mrs Onassis has been scratched.
Payne has been pleased with the improvement Al’s Magic Miss has made since her first-up outing and says a rain-affected track won’t affect her chances.
“She’ll only improve on that first-up run. He (Clipperton) claims three kilograms so that will help her,” Payne said.
Lightly-raced Prosperity Aethon finished fourth in a 3YO Maiden at Kembla last start on December 28 but Payne said the son of Lonhro didn’t like the firm surface that day.
“He’ll appreciate the give in the ground on Saturday,” he said.
Schofield returns from suspension on February 2.