Apprentice Alysha Collett will go home to New Zealand with four winners under her belt, a missed opportunity to make it five, and a four-meeting careless riding suspension.
Collett has impressed Sydney racegoers during her three-week stay with Chris Waller but Saturday’s Canterbury meeting is one she would rather forget.
Caught up in Sydney traffic, Collett failed to arrive at the course in time to partner Madam Nash, the third of four winners on the day for Waller.
She was in time to ride General’s Sniper in the Benchmark 85 (1550m) but was outed for shifting in on the eventual fourth placegetter near the 1000m, causing three runners to be tightened.
While it was a bad day for the 18-year-old, Waller is keen to get her back later this year.
“She is a good girl and a good rider and hopefully she will be back with us later in the year,” Waller said.
Her brother Jason, who has just won the New Zealand apprentices’ premiership for 2011/12, had a successful stint with Waller last year and is also expected back in Sydney later this month.
