Former Kiwi Alysha Collett claims her biggest Australian win and picks up a winning double in the process at Wyong

Jockey Alysha Collett celebrated a winning double at Wyong with victory in the Central Coast track’s newest feature, the $500,000 The Lakes.

A delighted Alysha Collett after winning the $500,000 The Lakes on Waterford at Wyong. Picture: Getty Images

Kiwi-born jockey Alysha Collett claimed her biggest win on Australian soil after producing a perfectly executed steer to help Waterford take out Wyong’s newest $500,000 feature on Saturday.

Collett got her timing spot on to help the Chris Waller-trained galloper run over the top of The Ingham winner Robusto in the inaugural The Lakes (1600m).

Waterford has been a frustrating campaigner for many a rider since making the move to Australia but Collett found a way to get the best out of him to snare her most lucrative career win.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“It’s nice to get opportunities in these races and get opportunities for people like Chris Waller,” Collett said.

“He has been fantastic since when I came over for my apprenticeship so it’s nice to get a job for them.

“It’s all about trying to be consistent and keep improving as a jockey.”

Collett has a Group 1 triumph to her name in New Zealand aboard Consensus in the Zabeel Classic in 2016, a race worth $NZ200,000.

In recent times she has ridden a pair of stakes winners since moving back to Australia following a stint in Singapore, claiming the 2022 Listed Australia Day Cup and 2024 Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes.

The Lakes, staged at Wyong’s first stand-alone Saturday, is undoubtedly her most significant feature yet in Australia and came on the back of an excellent ride.

Collett had Waterford in the one-one spot with the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto holding a comfortable lead with his stablemate Highlights outside it.

Collett shifted into the three-wide line rounding the turn but still had a length to make up as the field turned for home.

Today was the day for Waterford! The @cwallerracing galloper wins The Lakes at @WyongRaceClub thanks to a great @AlyshaCollett ride 👏 pic.twitter.com/lpV8p5sSa2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

• ‘She is stakes quality’: Queen impresses Hyeronimus in return

Waterford ($9) was up for the challenge, hitting top gear late to edge out Robusto ($2.80 favourite) by a half-length while Highlights ($6.50) continued to battle away to finish a length away in third.

“I was confident, I just didn’t want to let go of his head because sometimes when you do that he can have a good think,” Collett said.

“I loved the way he went to the line today, he put in.

“It’s great for the whole team, I thank them for the ride and a great bunch of owners too.”

Collett was aboard Waterford last start when the gelding was well beaten in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Her confidence grew that Waterford was ready to produce an improved showing on his way to the barriers.

“He obviously had a little freshen up from his 2000m run the other day and we had a sticky barrier and tried to ride with a bit of luck,” Collett said.

“I gave him a really good trot around to the barriers and he was alert. He knew what was going on today.”

Originally trained in the UK, Waterford burst onto the Australian racing scene with wins in four of his first five starts and has featured in stakes company for much of the past two years without much success.

Another tight finish at @WyongRaceClub, BULLETS HIGH prevails though in a driving finish, making it a double for @PrideRacing!@AlyshaCollettpic.twitter.com/c8c2zKuF3m

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

• Headley Grange continues to be a hit with Joe Pride

His last win came in a Benchmark 100 race last April while his spring carnival best came first up in the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in October where he was third.

“This horse has been pretty luckless this prep,” Waller’s stable representative Chris Harwood said.

“Barriers win races and he didn’t get a great one today but he got a bit of luck.

“He got a great ride. Alysha went out there to win a race and I think she won the race in the first furlong or two, putting him right there.

“He let down like a good horse today.”

Collett warmed up for her win on Waterford by helping another frustrating galloper breakthrough for hard earned victory.

She paired up with the Joseph Pride-trained Bullets High to help the son of Ace High hold off Waller’s Unlimited and Kris Lees’ Fulfilled in the De Bortoli Wines Benchmark 88 Handicap (2100m).

Collett had come into Saturday’s meeting with just one metropolitan winner for the campaign but tripled that number in less than an hour with her wins on Waterford and Bullets High.

Originally published as Former Kiwi Alysha Collett claims her biggest Australian win and picks up a winning double in the process at Wyong