Jason Collett ended the Sydney metropolitan racing season on a high, riding three winners at Warwick Farm’s final city meeting of the term. The in-form jockey partnered Bjorn Baker’s Fairway Star to victory in the MyPlates Handicap (1600m), followed by wins on Prima Bella for Matt Smith in the Headwater @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m) and Joe Pride’s The Replicant in the last race of the day.
The treble came just days after Collett booted home four winners at Randwick, helping him secure second place on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 74 wins, trailing only James McDonald (83). Among Collett’s season highlights was his Group 1 triumph aboard Stefi Magnetica in April’s Doncaster Mile (1600m) and his Group 2 win on Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).
“I’m rapt with how the season has gone,” Collett said. “The opportunities are coming on better horses now, which makes a big difference. The plan is to build on this momentum heading into next season.”
Earlier in the meeting, Kristen Buchanan’s lightly raced colt Tambeloa scored an impressive win in the Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1600m). The son of 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa, out of Gamble Me, was bought for $60,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
“He’s a big, raw boy who probably didn’t appeal as a precocious two-year-old, so we were lucky to pick him up,” Buchanan said. “He’s still learning but there’s plenty of ability there. He’s bred to get over ground and I wouldn’t rule out a Derby target in the future.”
Buchanan will decide on Tambeloa’s next step after seeing how the colt comes through Wednesday’s win.