Jason Collett is resigned to the fact that he will be more reliant on luck than good management as he tries to coax another win out of Territory Express in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange.
The Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor in the autumn, Territory Express has a get-back racing pattern that can often play against him, as was the case in the Five Diamonds (1800m) last start when he was disappointed for runs in the straight before charging home for fifth.
With regular rider Zac Lloyd suspended, Collett reunites with the Paul Niceforo-trained gelding in The Gong (1600m) on Saturday, well aware it will take some good fortune, as well as a good steer, to get the horse back in the winner’s circle.
“Early days I rode him a few times and his racing pattern hasn’t changed,” Collett said.
“He is still slow out of the gates, and he gets into tricky positions due to that. But when he gets the luck, he can get out of them.
“He’s got mountains of class but he’s difficult to always get right.
“All the work they’ve done and it hasn’t been able to change, so obviously that’s him and we have to work with that.”
Territory Express has drawn well in barrier seven and has been racing in tremendous heart throughout the spring, finishing an eye-catching sixth first-up in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) then just missing behind Iknowastar in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
Collett will partner Frilled for Matthew Smith in the day’s other feature, the Group 3 The Warra (1000m).
The mare hasn’t been far away in three Melbourne runs and she does hold the Kembla Grange 1000m track record of 55.79 seconds, set in September last year.
Four of her wins have been over the distance, although she is chasing her first success in just over 12 months.
“She has got a very good record but now up in grade, she is probably starting to find her mark,” Collett said.
“But besides the top couple, the rest are racing above their benchmark so she’s probably not badly placed.”
Collett has ridden 22 city winners so far this season to sit third on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership, behind only James McDonald (45 wins) and Tim Clark (25).
