Alysha Collett who leads the Australian Jockeys Premiership three weeks into the new season has a full book of seven mounts at the Newcastle race meeting on Saturday. The Kiwi lady enjoyed a successful 2020-21 season with 89 winners. Collett has ridden 11 winners during August however, the tally could have been higher.
After another successful day at Scone on August 12 the popular jockey has not ridden since. The Sydney suburb that she lives in with partner Luke Marlow was added to the list of COVID Hotspots while she was riding at Scone. Collett had to isolate and is living now on the Central Coast temporarily. She had to forgo mounts for which she was booked at three race meetings, with five of those mounts being successful.
Collett’s rides on Saturday in racebook order are: Moremi, Mandolin Wind, Always Praying, Why Wouldn’t You, Joy And Mirth, All Machiavellian and Mystic Rebel. “I am confident that all my rides will run well but my best ride is Mystic Rebel in the last race. She has a perfect draw and she had excuses when unplaced on the Kensington track last start. Mystic Rebel raced keen early in the race and shifted a plate during the race. She was an easy winner at Kembla two runs back and she was beaten a head first-up on the Kensington track. Obviously I love riding on the big track at Newcastle with its long straight. I had a career highlight at a Newcastle meeting last season when I rode five winners”. Collett said on Thursday.
The Hawkes’ trained colt Governor will be hard to beat in the 900m Yarraman Park Maiden Plate. The I Am Invincible 3yo was well backed ($5.50 to $4.60) at his only start on the Kensington track on July 21. He raced keenly in the lead and after leading in the straight folded up. The Stewards report indicated Governor was slow to recover following the race. He cruised when successful in a four horse Rosehill trial last Thursday. Last season’s premiership winning jockey Christian Reith has the mount from a soft draw.
Newcastle’s leading trainers Kris Lees and Paul Perry both have limited representation at the meeting however, both could saddle up a winner. Lees’ Berruti, a half-brother to Group 1 winners Deep Field and Shooting To Win has a good chance in the Reward Hospitality Benchmark 64 Handicap 1400m. Berruti has been runner up in three of his past four starts – all at Scone. Perry’s Son Of Sampson will be favourite in the 1250m Hungerford Hill Benchmark 68 Handicap. Son Of Sampson comes off an impressive home track win and Reece Jones claims 2 kilograms.