Peeping produced the best performance of her racing career to date to deliver jockey Sam Clipperton a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2016 Coolmore Classic.
Peeping takes out the 2015 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
There was a question mark over whether would run out a strong 1500 metres in the Coolmore Classic, but Clipperton timed his ride on the mare perfectly and she hit the front at the 100 metre mark before she held-off a fast-finishing Azkadellia to claim her maiden win at Group 1 level.
Trainer Ron Quinto had set Peeping for the Coolmore Classic at the start of her 2016 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he was always confident that she would run out the trip strongly, while he was delighted to be able to mount up his former apprentice Clipperton on his first Group 1 winner.
“She ran it today,” Quinton said.
“If you are going to take 1500 on Rosehill is the place and she loves Rosehill, she seems to race fantastic here.
“She does really enjoy it and we will really enjoy this one.
“It was a beautiful ride – it reminded me of some of mine.
“I am never confident until they go past that bloody winning post in front and I am very proud that Sam’s first Group 1 could be for me.”
Clipperton started his riding career under Quinton as a 16-year-old and the veteran trainer as well as his wife Margaret have looked after the young hoop as if he was their own child.
A clearly emotional Clipperton was clearly over the moon to have ridden his first Group 1 winner and he said that he never would have believed that he would have been able to score his first win at the highest level of racing for his father figure.
“That is pretty cool,” Clipperton said.
“Everything just panned out perfectly, I was able to slot in three pairs off the fence.
“600 out they really picked up the tempo and she just hit a bit of a flat spot, but when I pulled her out and switched legs I was confident.
“She was probably getting a bit tired in the last 50, but she kept challenging hard.
“I have been trying to rush things and make things happen a little bit, but I can’t thank Ron and his owners enough.
“It is a bit of a fairy tale being able to ride my first Group 1 winner for Ron and it is a day I will never forget.
“Him and Margaret have been a huge part of my life, I lived with them for three and a half years and if you would have told me as a young 15-year-old that I was going to ride my first Group 1 winner for Ron, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“It is very special and I am honestly speechless.”
Azkadellia hit the line strongly in the final stages and was just unable to pick up Peeping, while Solicit toughed it out on the speed to finish a brave third.
