Apprentice Jason Collett has had a good start to his Australian stint and has been given the chance to further announce his arrival with rides in two stakes races at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
The 19-year-old New Zealander is on loan to Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller for three months and has already ridden two city winners since arriving last Monday week.
Collett is booked to partner Beijing Boy for Waller in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) and has also been called on by Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm to ride Adulterer in the Listed Darley Crown (1300m).
“Things have started off really well, it’s good to get a couple of wins up early and hopefully people take notice,” Collett said.
“I’ve been here a week and a half now and it’s been a good start. I’ve settled into Chris Waller’s really well and I’m enjoying it there.”
Collett rode a winner at Canterbury last Wednesday and was in the winners’ circle again on Anzac Day at Randwick on Jackpot Queen.
Beijing Boy and Adulterer did their early racing across the Tasman so the apprentice is familiar with both horses.
“I actually won an apprentices’ race on Beijing Boy over a mile (1600m) back in New Zealand,” Collett said.
“He seemed like a nice horse then and I thought he had a bit of potential. He hadn’t got over a staying trip at that stage but since he has come over to Chris he has really stepped up and really performed.
“He’s won about six races over here and has really come of age.”
Adulterer has won two of her four starts since joining the Patinack team under trainer John Thompson last year.
The four-year-old mare has won a Moonee Valley maiden over 1200m and a rating-72 event over the same distance on the Sandown-Lakeside circuit.
She hasn’t raced since finishing last of six over 1400m at the same track on March 30.
Collett admitted it was a pleasant surprise to pick up a ride for Patinack in the Darley Crown.
“It’s good to get a couple of stakes rides, one is for Chris but the other is for an outside trainer which is a big thing,” he said.
The apprentice has won twice at Group Two level in New Zealand including a victory on November Rain in the Lady Norrie Stakes (1600m) in December last year.
November Rain is trained by Collett’s father Richard.
“That was pretty special,” he said.
AAP TURF
