After relocating to New South Wales last year, New Zealander Alysha Collett continues to climb her way up the state’s riding ranks and is gaining greater opportunities as a result.
It hasn’t been easy though for Collett, who moved to Australia after a stint in Singapore.
“It’s been a massive change of scenery, going from Singapore racing to here,” Collett told Racing.com.
“Obviously getting established as well, I was here as an apprentice about six or seven years ago, I only rode for six or seven months, so I did a short little stint, but coming here is basically about getting to know people and getting started again, and giving trainers confidence in putting me on, so once that started clicking, the better rides started coming and the results started coming.
“It’s been a little process in the last year, but it’s where I want to be at, anyway.”
Things have clicked this season for Collett. At this point in time, she’s in second place in the New South Wales jockeys’ premiership on 27 wins, eight wins behind fellow Kiwi, James McDonald.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season,” she said.
“Obviously, we’ve been in restrictions, in our zones for the past three months now, and it’s given me a little helping hand in getting going and getting a few more opportunities.
“It’s been really good; I couldn’t have expected it to go any better really.”
Collett has had to change her zone though from the outer Sydney zone to the greater Sydney zone so that she’s able to ride in the city on a Saturday, and this weekend she’ll link up with the Chris Waller stable in both the Gr.1 Epsom (1600m) and Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m).
“We have to do five days’ isolation, as well as three or four negative Covid tests in order to change zones,” Collett said.
In the Epsom Collett will ride former Singapore star Aramayo at 51.5kg, who will head into the race third-up for the campaign with barrier 5.
“We’ve got a tidy barrier and I think he’s well weighted,” Collett said.
“His first-up run was really impressive behind Zaaki over the 1400m and he gets to the mile, which he should enjoy.
“I’ve had success at Group One level before, but getting it in Australia would be another fantastic thing to do.
“I’m looking forward to riding him, he’s a gentleman to ride.
Collett’s brother Jason has ridden Aramayo in his two runs this spring in the Tramway Stakes and the Bill Ritchie Handicap and has been able to pass on his advice to his sister, as the horse faces a sharp drop in the weights.
“He said that they were really good runs going forward and he thought it was a great opportunity and a great ride in the race,” she said.
Collett will partner former Kiwi Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Metropolitan, where the four-year-old mare will carry just 50kgs.
