Chris Waller respects apprentice Jason Collett’s decision to head home to New Zealand at season’s end but the trainer hasn’t given up hope of luring him back.
“He’s going home which I respect him for,” Waller said.
“He was only ever coming for a few months originally and I’m sure he has learned a lot from this trip. There’s some horses back home he wants to be riding during their spring carnival but hopefully we can get him back at some point.”
Collett has made an impact during his three-month loan and notched his 19th city winner at Randwick on Saturday.
He admits he will return home a much better rider than the one who arrived in late April and is keeping an open mind about a return in the future.
“The experience has done me the world of good,” Collett said.
“Strength-wise I have improved and also riding against the top riders I’ve been able to learn a lot off them.
“I’ve had a good reception and if I do decide to come back at some stage, I guess I’ve laid a bit of a platform.”
The 20-year-old said he had taken particular notice of Kerrin McEvoy and had picked up plenty from watching the internationally-experienced hoop go about his business.
While Waller would be happy for Collett to stick around and have a crack at next season’s apprentices’ title, the premiership-leading trainer realised Collett had his heart set on a return to his friends and family.
“He has had a taste of it now and he’s got a really good head on his shoulders,” Waller said.
“It’s a privilege to work with him.”
Collett first came to Sydney last year on a two-week scholarship Waller offers to one New Zealand apprentice every year.
A rule change which only counts wins at premier New Zealand meetings as city wins in Australia paved the way for Collett to be invited back by Waller.
Under the new rules Collett came to Sydney able to claim two kilograms in the metropolitan area as he had only won 23 races at premier New Zealand meetings.
“I thought he would do well over here but I also knew he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, and he’s made no mistakes,” Waller said.
“He just takes everything in his stride, goes about his business and is very professional.
“He now knows how we race our horses and I don’t need to give him instructions and tell him how to ride any more because he picks it up very quickly. To me that’s the sign of a smart jockey.”
AAP TURF
