Top jockey Jason Collett has signed off with a winning treble at the final metropolitan meeting of the season to cap what has been an outstanding year in the saddle.
On a wet and cold winter’s afternoon at Warwick Farm, Collett opened his account in Wednesday’s MyPlates Handicap (1600m) aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained Fairway Star before adding wins on Prima Bella for Matt Smith in the Headwater @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m) and the Joe Pride-trained The Replicant in the final race.
It followed the hoop’s four-winner haul at Randwick on Saturday and ensured he finished a clear second on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 74 wins, behind only champion jockey James Mcdonald (83).
Along with ending the 2024-25 racing term with a flurry of victories, Collett’s season was also highlighted by an eighth career Group 1 aboard the Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April, while he combined with popular mare Fangirl to claim the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) in February.
“I’m really happy with the season’s total,” Collett said.
“I’m getting the chance to ride some better horses and it’s starting to show in the results.
“I just want to keep the momentum going into next season and so on now.”
Earlier on Wednesday’s card, Kristen Buchanan produced two-year-old Tambeloa for a win in the Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1600m), a colt she hoped could continue to make a mark over longer distances.
From the first crop of 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa out of multiple stakes winner Gamble Me, Tambeloa was picked up for a relatively cheap $60,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
“He was a big lump which probably didn’t appeal to that early two-year-old vibe there, so maybe we were lucky he was placed in that sale,” Buchanan said.
“He’s a big baby. He’s only two, just about to turn three, but he is showing a lot of promise.
“I think he is going to relish getting over a longer trip.
“Dreams are free. There may be a Derby in his picture down the track. I wouldn’t discount it.”
Buchanan will see how Tambeloa comes through his win before deciding whether to press on with him this campaign.
