Rising jockey star Sam Clipperton has the chance to build on his great season with prime rides in the feature races at Friday’s rich Gosford Gold Cup meeting.

Clipperton has a rides in the three Group and Listed races with Ammirata and Meursault the pick of his trio.

Ammirata, trained by Joe Pride, contests the G3 $125,000 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) on the back of two wins from three runs this preparation.

Clipperton has ridden her in all three starts and has noticed a change in her development following an 18-week spell during the winter and spring.

“She was still a bit raw and immature when I rode her last preparation but I think the penny has dropped now and she’s in good form,” Clipperton said.

“She’s strengthened up in the hindquarters and she’s a professional. She’s a really confident horse and so is her jockey.”

Clipperton’s confidence stems from the success he has enjoyed this season riding for some of Sydney’s top stables.

The former champion apprentice enjoyed his best season in 2014/15 when he rode 81 winners including 38 in the city and is on track to better those figures this season with 24 city wins among his 36 winners to January 6.

More than half his winners this season have come from the stables of John O’Shea and Joe pride, the trainers of Meursault and Ammirata.

Ammirata is a Nadeem mare who will be favoured by Friday’s heavy track with a 1.5kg weight advantage on rival Just A Blur, a mare she beat by a head last start at Rosehill.

“We only won by a small margin but I still think my horse’s run was better than Just A Blur,” Clipperton said.

“She got to the lead early and was there to be run down but kept fighting and held the other horse off.

“The mile won’t be an issue and she’s a pretty full-proof horse. She jumps well, has form in the wet and she’s always up for the challenge.”

O’shea’s Godolphin runner Meursault takes on a strong field in the Listed $100,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).

“He’s ready to run well first-up and will enjoy not having to take on the likes of Hallowed Crown, Sweynesse, Kermadec and Shooting To Win like he did last preparation,” Clipperton said of the quality of horses Meursault raced against last year.

“He’s trialled well and has run in a lot tougher races against better horses. He’s down on the minimum weight so he gets his chance.”

Clipperton’s ride in the $150,000 Gosford Gold Cup is the Greg Hickman-trained Dream Folk, on the back up from running sixth behind Loophole over 1900m at Rosehill last Saturday.