By Craig Kerry
Sydney-based jockey Jason Collett was pleased when some rain fell last Saturday on the Gold Coast after he had ridden an early winner on Magic Millions day from a nice draw.
It was the amount of precipitation that quickly became the problem.
Jason Collett after winning on Within The Law.Credit: Getty Images
Now Collett is hoping for conditions to better suit the back markers on Friday night when the remaining seven races of the postponed program are held.
Collett rode the Marcus Wilson-trained Heavenly Impact to victory in the Magic Millions Maiden Plate after a rails run from just behind the speed.
Wide runners from back in the field struggled as on-pace horses won the next two races before a storm washed out the rest of the meeting.
Collett has six rides, including former Magic Millions Classic favourite Icarian Dream, across Friday’s seven races, but none have the luxury of an inside barrier.
‘She’s just going to be relying on what unfolds underneath her from that gate.’
Jason Collett on his Magic Millions runner Icarian Dream
“I was fortunate early in the day, that was the one good barrier that I had,” Collett said of Heavenly Impact.
“It was definitely the difference between winning and losing on Saturday, so hopefully that track plays a bit more even on Friday night.
“I was pushing for them to kick on when the rain came. I thought it could even things out across the track, but obviously, [with] the amount of rain that came that wasn’t an option.”
The Ciaron Maher-trained Icarian Dream was an $8.50 Sportsbet chance for the $3 million 1200m two-year-old feature after drawing gate 21.
“She’s just going to be relying on what unfolds underneath her from that gate,” Collett said from his native New Zealand, where he was attending a friend’s wedding.
“If we can get the pressure speed-wise early and in the middle, it will set it up for her. But in a perfect world, you are midfield, wide with cover, but I won’t know that until we jump.”
Yes Lulu, another from the Maher stable, was $16 with gate 17 for the other $3 million race, the 1400m Guineas.
“She’s probably similar to Icarian,” he said.
“She doesn’t possess a great deal of early speed, so again we are going to be relying on how it unfolds early and in the middle, but she seems to have come back really well this prep.
“Her last win on the Caulfield inside track was quite impressive because she’s come back off a slow tempo, and she sprinted really well.”
His other rides include Loch Eagle ($9) for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees in the $1 million Subzero, Yellow Brick ($5) in the $1.5 million Open for Queensland duo Tony and Maddysen Sears and Battleton ($27) for Warwick Farm conditioner Bjorn Baker in the $2 million Cup.
Collett will make a quick return to Sydney for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill, where he has the job on the Maher-trained, King Charles-owned, Gilded Water, which chases a third consecutive Australian win.
“He’s adapting well, I don’t think the weight is a problem, and he’s a very good chance,” he said.
