Racing: Collett rides wave of success

Jason Collett. Photo / Supplied

Jason Collett There is no greater certainty than James McDonald and Jason Collett will one day end up based in Australia.

But meantime we should be thankful that both riding talents will be spending time in New Zealand, at least through much of the spring.

At a time when our riding ranks are scant to be charitable, that's great news.

Family, as much as anything, brought Jason Collett back from Chris Waller's hugely successful Sydney stable after a three-month stint.

Waller, himself a New Zealander, was keen to retain the teenager.

The Pukekohe apprentice arrived back in New Zealand at 2am Monday morning and was at the Te Teko barrier trials on Tuesday.

Royal Randwick to Te Teko in 72 hours can be a culture shock, but Collett was enjoying himself, despite grabbing the headlines in one of the world's great racing precincts.

"The hardest thing to cope with was I had no friends or family over there," said Collett between rides.

But he loved the Australian racing culture.

"I enjoyed talking to the owners before each race.

"You go out to mount up five minutes earlier than you do in New Zealand and you spend that time taking to the owners.

"A lot of Chris' owners are tied up in other syndicates, so it's up to you to sell yourself.

"It's a shame we don't do the same thing here in New Zealand."

The highlight of the 28 winners Collett rode on this latest trip was a Saturday winning treble at Randwick.

And that wasn't just the scores on the board, one of the three winners - for the all-powerful Darley team - marked the arrival of respect for the youngster.

Halfway down the Randwick home straight Collett attempted to pull his mount out into the clear, but was shunted back in by top-dog tough man Nash Rawiller, on a short-priced Gai Waterhouse favourite.

Collett admitted early in his Australian stay he'd initially been intimidated.

Mark down the word initially, because on this day he'd decided his time had come.

When Collett pulled the Darley horse out the second time, Rawiller copped a beauty and the New Zealander and his mount were in the clear.

At the top level in Australia you have to be able to give as good as you get.

Collett has 24 winners left before he loses his ability to claim an allowance in Australia and doesn't rule out the possibility Waller may be able to lure him back before that happens.

Meantime, after cleaning his saddles following Pukekohe races today he and Daniel Stackhouse are flying to Fiji to holiday.

Stackhouse has done an equally magnificent job for leading Melbourne trainer Peter Moody.

Difficult to keep telling yourself that 12 months ago Stackhouse finished a close second on Yourtheman to stablemate Counter Punch in the Grand National Steeplechase.

* Nothing definite has been confirmed about the immediate future for champion jockey James McDonald.

"For the next month I'll be riding the Saturdays in Melbourne, then it eases up for a bit and we'll see what happens after that."