Collett to lay off the Christmas ham

Jason Collett was set to have Christmas off but thanks to a couple of good horses, he isn’t touching the ham and turkey on Christmas Day.

Collett originally had Magic Millions favourite Paradoxium in Saturday’s Bruce McLachlan Stakes and the equally as exciting, to him, Caffe Florian in the Gosford Guineas on Sunday.

“When horses like these come along, you are going to ride them wherever and whenever they are racing,” Collett said. “You don’t get two like this together too often.”

“I was thinking about having the week over to Clare and the kids, but Bjorn [Baker] and Richard [Litt] have found good races that are important next steps.”

“Caffe Florian has only got 54kg on Sunday, so I’ll have to be careful on Christmas Day what I have.”

”I’ll be riding Boxing Day, then Brisbane on Saturday, and Gosford on Sunday, so I’m busy.”

Unfortunately for Collett, he lost Paradoxium when it got a bout of travel sickness on the trip to Queensland. He will now look forward to Caffe Florian in the Gosford Guineas, who he believes can measure up to a race like the Magic Millions Sunlight.

The winner of two of three, including at a Canterbury night meeting last time, takes a big step up to black type grade at Gosford on Sunday.

“She is a very good filly and I see her going the same way as Private Harry, if she can win on Sunday, and go to the Sunlight,” Collett said.

“There is just a real class about her and Richard has placed her well, but we need to show her at that next level.”

“Her racing style doesn’t really suit Gosford, but she has got a big motor and with no weight she will be very hard to beat.”