Getting back on the horse. Collett reunion part of Berry medal chase
By Craig Kerry
Jason Collett admits that sometimes it can be hard, even for a seasoned jockey, to get back on the horse.
Luckily, that’s not the case with Bjorn Baker-trained Within The Law, which he hopes can help his push for a first Nathan Berry Medal (the prize awarded to the most successful jockey over the two weeks of The Championships), just three weeks after she threw him off in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
Jason Collett after winning the Doncaster Mile aboard Stefi Magnetica.Credit: Getty Images
Collett was fortunate to walk back to the Rosehill jockeys’ room largely unscathed after Within The Law fell, crashing through the inside fence, at the rear of the field. The filly escaped with just a cut and has since trialled well in preparation for Saturday’s group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
He said there were no demons to overcome with the filly but added: “I’ve definitely ridden horses in the past where I’ve come off and not been keen to get back on them.
“But with her, I was very good. But it’s a big thing as well for the rider to be confident, so I can make every decision I need to and not be swayed [on] going for a run.”
Collett has also bounced back, scoring a career-best win on Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica in the $4 million Doncaster Mile last Saturday at Randwick. It helped make him the equal leader with Tyler Schiller in the race for the Nathan Berry Medal.
Stefi Magnetica comes down the outside to win the Doncaster.Credit: Getty Images
Premier rider James McDonald returns after missing day one of The Championships, and he has several top chances with Lord Of Biscay, Tempted, Autumn Glow, Leica Lucy, Via Sistina and Fangirl across the medal-eligible races. Collett has Within The Law, Stefi Magnetica, Imposant and Circle Of Fire.
“I’ve got good rides in the Percy Sykes and two of the groups 1 that I’m pretty happy with,” Collett said.
“Circle Of Fire [Sydney Cup] is going great. He’s drawn wide, but he’ll slide forward and be in the race.
“The good draw is a huge help for Stefi [in the Queen Of The Turf]. She’s backed up well before, from the Golden Eagle and that was off having to go down to Victoria, so I can’t see that being a problem.”
He hoped a better draw, in four, would help Within The Law hit back.
“She will be able to make some use of that gate,” he said.
“It won’t be a case of being out the back, as far back as she has been in a lot of her other starts, due to barriers. That’s going to be a huge help.”
Baker was confident Within The Law, a winner three times in five starts, was ready.
“You can’t over-analyse it,” Baker said of the Slipper fall.
“That’s horses, and people. We were pretty adamant we wanted to find the fence, and that was definitely the place to be, and she just touched it and overreacted. Thankfully, she’s OK. She just had one cut, and it’s healed pretty well.
“Racing is a funny game. Three weeks ago, we were there with Jason and Within The Law, hoping they were OK, and then he went and won a Doncaster for me.”