Collett out to add Australian group 1 breakthrough to career-best season

5 days ago 6

By Craig Kerry

October 2, 2025 — 5.00pm

During a career-best season in Sydney, jockey Alysha Collett says a second place was her 2024-25 highlight.

Collett had a new high of 12 NSW city wins, including riding Waterford to victory in the $500,000 The Lakes at Wyong, on the way to a personal best of more than $5 million in prizemoney.

Alysha Collett is pipped for a first group 1 win on Sun’N’Sand (left) by the fast-finishing Treasurethe Moment at Randwick in April.

But almost stealing a first group 1 win in Australia, with 50-1 shot Sun’N’Sand in the ATC Oaks in April stood out. Unfortunately for Collett, star filly Treasurethe Moment arrived just in time to spoil the party.

Collett was eyeing another group 1 chance with Sun’N’Sand on Saturday at Randwick in the Metropolitan (2400m), but with the Canberra mare in doubt to get a run, she instead picked up the ride on Don Diego De Vega ($35 Sportsbet). Sun’N’Sand ($101) was first emergency, with Winona Costin to ride, and gained a start on Wednesday with the scratching of Adelaide River.

With group 3 wins aboard With Your Blessing and Nellie Leylax already this season, Collett has built on her success from 2024-25 and also grabbed the chance on Swiftfalcon ($14) in the Epsom Handicap (1600m). The 31-year-old, a group 1 winner in her native New Zealand, will ride both at 50 kilograms.

“It was right on the edge,” Collett said of Sun’N’Sand.

Alysha Collett winning the group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap aboard With Your Blessing two weeks ago at Randwick.

“The run on Saturday was really brilliant from Sun’N’Sand, but unfortunately it wasn’t going to make the field so you have to make those decisions. So I feel sad that I’m not going to be riding her, because I love her.

“But it’s just nice to have opportunities. I’ve been in and out in the city, just trying, working away at these sorts of opportunities.

“It’s all about getting the right opportunities, and fortunately this year I’ve got really good support, which is the main thing. It’s been a slow battle, but things are going really well.”

Although she is yet to ride the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Don Diego De Vega in a race, Collett feels comfortable on the import, which blew the start and finished sixth in the Newcastle Cup. She will need to overcome a tricky draw in barrier 12 on Saturday in an open affair.

Alysha Collett after winning on With Your Blessing in the Bill Ritchie Handicap.

“He’s quirky, but I know him really well, so that’s a key thing for him,” she said.

“During winter, I rode him most of his Tuesday gallops leading into the races, so I have a good feel for him.”

The chance on the Michael, John and Waynes Hawkes-trained Swiftfalcon came with regular rider Tyler Schiller avoiding a weight drop on a day he pilots Everest hope Briasa in the $1 million Premiere Stakes.

Swiftfalcon has finished three lengths away in sixth in his two runs back as a four-year-old, in the Tramway Stakes and Cameron Handicap.

“He’s got plenty of talent and I think having a ride on him in a track work gallop gives me a good indicator of what type of horse he is too,” said Collett, who rode Swiftfalcon on Tuesday and Friday.

“I’m really happy I did that, it just helped getting to know him a little bit and just knowing how he goes through his paces.

“I just need to get him into a rhythm and let him build through his gears.

“I’m pretty sure the blinkers are going on. His work was class. I like the barrier [four]. I like the set-up for him, so hopefully the favourite [Autumn Glow] is not too good.”

Collett also rides Midway Handicap favourite Sunset Park ($4.80) on the day, as well as Churchill’s Choice ($23) in the fifth and Legaselli ($35) in the third.