Collett Heads Across The Ditch Hunting For G1 Title

Collett looking for G1 win in New Zealand

Collett has been riding in good form of late having completed a double at Randwick on Saturday and is now set to partner with Babylon Berlin in the Group One Sistema Railway for the father and son training partnership of Ben and Ryan Foote.

"I got offered the ride on Babylon Berlin and I thought she's a good chance in the Group 1 over there," Collett said.

"It's worth $450,000 so I thought I'd be annoyed if I said no and it came out and won so instead of heading to Canterbury, I thought I would head over.

"I fly out (on Sunday) and come back Tuesday so it's a quick trip but hopefully a successful one."

A six year old, Babylon Berlin has raced 5 times at Group One level including finishing midfield behind Imperatriz in this years William Reid Stakes where she jumped as a live chance in betting. 

"Last year she ran three placings in the sprints there behind Imperatriz and Levante so she's good enough to do it and she gets the right race for it as well," Collett said.

"She showed over here that she's up to it as well so if she can turn up in that sort of form, I think she'll be pretty hard to beat."

Collet hasn’t raced in New Zealand in 6 years but returning back to his home track of Pukukohe can take him to Group One victory on the first day of the year.  

"I reckon 2017, about six years ago was the last time I rode there," Collett said.

"It's my home track so hopefully I can have a bit of luck and the rain should give some of my other rides a good chance."

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