Racing: Sideline in fitness paying off

Jimmy Collett likes money. That's not unusual for a jockey, but Collett likes it so much he has the nickname Jimmy Wallet.

His keenness in that area has enormous side benefits. Because he was always keen to back the mounts he thought could win, Collett became New Zealand's best judge of fitness of a racehorse after riding it in training.

Which led to his position of stable adviser for Mike and Paul Moroney and to guiding Xcellent to his group one victory in last week's Darley Stakes at Ellerslie.

Persistent knee problems caused Collett to end his highly successful career as a jockey (1624 wins in New Zealand alone) and he says he is just loving his new role.

Collett rides whatever horse the Moroneys need an opinion on and the brothers say he is more valuable to them than a top horse in the stable.

"We've used Jim in this role for 10 years and it's terrific to now make it official," said Paul Moroney.

"He's invaluable to us. He spells and pre-trains our horses and he treats them as if they're his own.

"He had Xcellent at his place between the Derby and the Darley and he came back to us looking fantastic."

Collett rode Mike Moroney's first two group one winners, Imperial Angel in the 1985 1000 Guineas and Heavenly Body in the 1989 South Australian Oaks.

The 17-year-old who won the Grand National Hurdles on Rapid Flight, gave away jumps riding, like Grant Cooksley, to become a genuine group one jockey.

"I'm really enjoying this phase of my career. I'm still selling real estate - I sold a property this week - but that is part-time now and my full time job is again back with horses."

True horsemanship is born not developed and Collett has always had the eye for a horse.

"I've always been able to judge. I've developed up about 20 yearlings of my own and traded them.

"The fortunate thing for me is that I'm now learning the finer points of training."

Collett offered the Weekend Herald his advice for the three stable runners at Te Aroha today after riding them in training this week.

Stravigent (Race 6): "This is his first time racing in blinkers. He has been working in blinkers and I have detected some improvement in him. He will run well."

Mount Albert Lions (Race 5): "This is a tough field for a first-start 2-year-old. He's a nice horse, but it's probably a bit much to expect him to win."

Sarah Vee (Race 7): "The Otaki race was to have been her last because she's in foal, but she was unlucky there, slipping at the start and doing well to be beaten two noses for third. She's very well and she'll run an excellent last-ditch race."