Collett’s Slipper chance: ‘I think I’ve found the right horse’

Jason Collett knows what a Golden Slipper winner feels like, he has been on a couple, but never on the day that matters.

He could have ridden Fireburn and did a lot of work with Marhoona before she became a Golden Slipper queen last year.

“I have had a few choices where I could have been on the winner,” Collett said. “I went for Serjardan because he was a colt in Fireburn’s year and I rode Marhoona her first couple of runs and then she got into the field at the last minute.

“It is one of those races where I know what you’re looking for and I think I’ve found the right horse this year.”

Collett chose Paradoxium late last year as the horse with the potential to be there on Golden Slipper day, and the colt arrives a $5 equal favourite in Slipper week.

“He is still getting better, and we will see the best of him on Saturday,” Collett said. “He has had his dramas along the way, but he is very smart and we haven’t seen his best yet.”

Collett won the Wyong Magic Millions on Paradoxium to make him the Magic Millions favourite, only for him to suffer travel sickness on his way to Queensland.

Trainer Bjorn Baker has got him back to health and he earned Golden Slipper favouritism when he made a one-act affair of the Todman Stakes.

“You wanted to see him under pressure, and he did that in the Todman, and I know there was improvement left,” Collett said.

“I rode him again on Thursday and he was better again.

“He has led in his wins, but we always sit off a mate in trackwork, so I’m not worried if something else wants to lead.

“I just want a good barrier on Tuesday, so we can be where we want to be because he has got an electric turn of foot.”

Collett will also ride Stefi Magnetica in the Ranvet Stakes and Headley Grange in the George Ryder Stakes.

“Headley Grange is on his way to the Doncaster and is going really well,” Collett said. “It is a tough race at weight-for-age for him but with 54.5kg in the Doncaster he will be right in it.”

Meanwhile, Magic Night Stakes winner Pembrey could tempt Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton to Rosehill on Saturday.

Likely Golden Slipper field and riders

WARWOVEN Rachel King

STRETAN RULER Chad Schofield

PARADOXIUM Jason Collett

CAMPIONE D’ITALIA Damian Lane

CLOSER TO FREE Jamie Melham

GUEST HOUSE Zac Lloyd

ZAMBALES Nash Rawiller

FIREBALL James McDonald

MUSIC TIME Pierre Boudvillain

HIDRIX Kerrin McEvoy

INCOGNITO Tommy Berry

SPICY MISS Craig Newitt

CHAYAN Craig Williams

PEMBREY Zac Purton

STREISAND Ben Melham

SHIKI Tim Clark

Emergency

AGRARIAN GIRL Regan Bayliss