Richard Collett and Daughter Alysha
Trish Dunell
Richard Collett has officially become a trans-Tasman trainer.
The Pukekohe horseman has been campaigning a small team in New South Wales in recent months and he has now been granted permanent boxes at Warwick Farm.
"It' a complex of eight stables and it's building on what we have had there during the winter," Collett said.
"I've had three racing – Ventura, Hot Mustard and Untamed Diamond – and I've got a couple of two-year-olds as well."
"We will be looking at sending a couple of maidens over who have showed their worth in New Zealand, but that won't be until after the end of the spring carnival."
Collett said he was looking forward to developing horses at home to the stage where they could then be competitive in Australia.
"We've got a lovely property at Pukekohe, which has been good to us and always will be.
"It's obviously very good money on offer in Australia and we've got shares in a lot of the horses so we're looking for better financial returns."
Collett's son Jason has also successfully established himself in the Sydney riding ranks and his partner Claire Cunningham, who was formerly employed by Peter Moody, has played a major role in the new operation.
"She has set it all up for us and got things organised, she's done a lot of hard work but she didn't want to be tied to a permanent stable so I have employed a stable foreman," Collett said.
"Quinton Cassidy started off as an apprentice with Graeme Rogerson and he's worked in China and he's got a lot of experience in New South Wales."
During his stint in Asia, Cassidy was the head trainer in China for the powerful China Horse Club.
"It is going to be a nice challenge and my wife Judy and I are looking forward to the lifestyle change as well and spending a bit more time over there," Collett said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Pukekohe horseman has been campaigning a small team in New South Wales in recent months and he has now been granted permanent boxes at Warwick Farm.
"It' a complex of eight stables and it's building on what we have had there during the winter," Collett said.
"I've had three racing – Ventura, Hot Mustard and Untamed Diamond – and I've got a couple of two-year-olds as well."
"We will be looking at sending a couple of maidens over who have showed their worth in New Zealand, but that won't be until after the end of the spring carnival."
Collett said he was looking forward to developing horses at home to the stage where they could then be competitive in Australia.
"We've got a lovely property at Pukekohe, which has been good to us and always will be.
"It's obviously very good money on offer in Australia and we've got shares in a lot of the horses so we're looking for better financial returns."
Collett's son Jason has also successfully established himself in the Sydney riding ranks and his partner Claire Cunningham, who was formerly employed by Peter Moody, has played a major role in the new operation.
"She has set it all up for us and got things organised, she's done a lot of hard work but she didn't want to be tied to a permanent stable so I have employed a stable foreman," Collett said.
"Quinton Cassidy started off as an apprentice with Graeme Rogerson and he's worked in China and he's got a lot of experience in New South Wales."
During his stint in Asia, Cassidy was the head trainer in China for the powerful China Horse Club.
"It is going to be a nice challenge and my wife Judy and I are looking forward to the lifestyle change as well and spending a bit more time over there," Collett said. – NZ Racing Desk.
