A Group One-winning rider in New Zealand, Alysha Collett will have two chances to add to her tally in Australia with a pair of lightweight rides at the Epsom Handicap day meeting at Randwick.
The talented hoop will partner Swiftfalcon for Team Hawkes in the feature mile and Don Diego De Vega for Annabel and Rob Archibald in the Metropolitan (2400m).
It’s becoming increasingly familiar territory for Collett, who has now ridden in 17 Australian majors for two placings as she chases a breakthrough Group 1 win in her adopted hometown.
“The last four of five years I’ve fortunately had really good opportunities in Group Ones and been exposed to them, which is really nice,” Collett said.
“It’s also getting the right opportunities. This year I’ve got really good support which is the main thing.
“It has been a slow battle but things are going really well.”
Swiftfalcon, who will sport blinkers for the first time, is a $15 chance for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) while Don Diego De Vega is $34 for the Metropolitan.
The winner of the Grafton Cup (2350m) in July, Don Diego De Vega uncharacteristically reared as the barriers opened for the Newcastle Cup and bombed the start, making late headway to finish sixth to Metropolitan equal favourite Soul Of Spain.
Pre-race, Annabel Archibald had been concerned he may have been vulnerable on the score of fitness as he’d had two months between runs but in the end those doubts proved unfounded.
“He missed the Wyong Cup but Rob was there that day (at Newcastle) and said he wouldn’t have blown a candle out so I was probably worrying for no reason. He is naturally very fit,” Archibald said.
“He only had a couple of weeks off after the Grafton Cup so there is loads of residual there.
“Although he missed the start at Newcastle and it was just a sit and sprint, it was probably the ideal lead-up run into this so hopefully he won’t be silly in the gates and it was just a one-off.”
Collett also liked what she saw from the import at Newcastle and felt he could feature on Saturday with even luck from his awkward draw in 12.
“It was a bit of a pickle with the barriers. He got further back than anticipated but his work to the line was beautifully for a first-up run,” Collett said.
Collett has enjoyed a good start to the Sydney spring carnival winning the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) aboard With Your Blessing two weeks ago and combining with the Archibalds to claim the Premier’s Cup (2000m) with Nellie Leylax in August.
She has five rides at Randwick on Saturday, including debutante Legaselli for John Thompson in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).
