Port Cup one day, Group One the next

YOUNG New Zealand jockey Jason Collett arrived back in Sydney from an enforced holiday to discover he gets a second chance to win a major country cup on Friday and also to ride in his first Group One on Saturday.

Collett returns from suspension to ride top weight Beyond Thankful for Chris Waller in today’s Carlton Mid Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) while he goes on to First Seal in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

A win by Beyond Thankful would help put to bed a few demons Collett has been struggling with since he ran second on the horse in the Wagga Wagga cup in May. Collett had the imported Irish galloper in the box seat, running fourth and fifth, but at the top of the straight a gap appeared and Collett had no option than to take it.

He hit the lead only to be run down in the last 50 metres by stablemate Trade Commissioner. 

“When I hit the front I knew I still had a long way to go down the straight and feared I had gone to the lead too early,” Collett said. “If I hadn’t taken it and got beaten I would have been left wondering.

“I have gone back over the video quite a few times and I still think I made the right decision. He is a nice horse but I have not been back on him since Wagga.”

Collett was suspended until October 10  for causing severe interference at Newcastle on September 18 and went home to New Zealand for a holiday.

“It’s good to be back riding and the cup is a nice race to kick off what I hope will be a big weekend,” Collett said.

Another Sydney jockey in Brenton Avdulla returns, chasing his second Port Macquarie Cup in three years.

Avdulla won the cup in 2011 on the Waller trained Old Bill and he rides Campanology for Waller.

This will be the horse’s first attempt at 2000 metres and only his second run back from a spell after finishing fourth over 1550 metres at Canterbury on September 24.

WINNER of the Carlton Mid Port Macquarie Cup in 2012, Falklands, was a disappointing eighth in the Port Cup Prelude on Sunday, September 28.

Trainer Marc Quinn said he is still a chance in the 14-strong field this year, but admits this year’s Cup will be harder with the $100,000 prizemoney on offer attracting three city runners.

Jockey Raymond Spokes will be on board in the black and yellow silks at 54 kg. Falklands was to have run over 1600 metres at Warwick Farm on August 27, but was scratched.

Heavy conditions could effect the galloper who is making a comeback after having a chipped bone surgically removed from a fetlock.

He did show some of his old self on a heavy track on August 29 at Scone when he ran fourth over 1600 metres.

But then ran last, beaten 41 lengths, in the Dubbo Cup on September 14.

The six-year-old is past the half-way mark in his career Quinn but said Falklands “always keeps trying.”