By John Schell
Jason Collett will travel to Kembla Grange on Tuesday where he has a number of top mounts awaiting him at the midweek meeting.
Collett was booked for five rides at the meeting, although the Matthew Smith-trained Runranirun in the Wollongong First Aid Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1000m) went around at the same track on Saturday when finishing sixth and is scratched.
The Group 1-winning jockey will link with his trainer father, Richard Collett, when partnering Navy Buoy ($5 on TAB) in the Henry Clive Bar Maiden Handicap (2000m), as well as The Professor ($6) in the Illawarra Production Services Midway Class 1 Handicap (1500m).
Top jockey Jason Collett - has ridden 82 winners this season. Image by Bradley Photographers
“They both look to be really good chances,” Jason Collett said.
“Navy Buoy is lightly raced having only had the five starts, but he has been placed in three of them and he ran well at Kembla at his latest start when running fourth.
“The step up in distance looks like it should suit him, and he gets his chance.”
The Professor has a win and five placings to his name from 12 starts and has finished second and third in each of his latest two starts at Goulburn.
“He’s a horse with his share of talent and he has been racing well,” said the jockey. “If he can run up to his latest two runs then there’s no reason he can’t break through with another win.
Collett combines with trainer Bruce Cross when he rides Just Like Tilda ($5.50) in The Race Against Suicide Raceday 21st June 3YO & Up Maiden Plate (1000m).
His remaining ride for the day is the Marc Conners-prepared Outcast Girl ($23) in the Rainmaker Bushfire Sprinklers Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).
“Just Like Tilda is a filly making her debut and she performed well in her only trial at Warwick Farm,” said Collett. “She ran third in that and wasn’t beaten too far, and Bruce [Cross] should have her primed to run well.”
As for Outcast Girl, Collett said is expecting a forward showing: “She’s first-up from a spell after two trials,” he said. “She won a couple in a row last preparation and can sprint well fresh.”
View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here