Swissta
Trish Dunell
Richard Collett doesn't lack for three-year-old talent in his Pukekohe Park stable.
Top Prospect, who is currently side-lined by a hamstring issue, is unbeaten in his last three starts including a victory in last month's Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial and now Swissta has completed his hat-trick of wins.
The son of Swiss Ace finished determinedly to claim top honours in Sunday's Gr.2 Jamieson Park Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie.
"He'd beaten the older horses at his last start and the horse he beat (Courtmaster) came out and just got beaten after that so I was pretty confident," Collett said. "He can sit on the speed and relax."
Swissta did just that and raced on the leader's quarters to the turn before knuckling down to get the better of a gallant Tiptronic and Jon Snow boxed on well for third.
"He's a horse that we bought at the Festival Sale at Karaka as a Karaka Million type and he showed a bit as a late two-year-old, but he is a long-striding horse," said Collett, who has no immediate plans for the gelding. "Not sure yet, we'll get home and have a think about it."
Swissta continued a grand Christmas carnival at Ellerslie for Collett's daughter Alysha, who rode her first Group One winner on Boxing Day aboard Consensus in the Zabeel Classic.
She said she hadn't planned to have Swissta so close to the pace, but a lack of early speed forced her hand.
"I didn't want to sit outside the leader, but there was no pace on. He settled well and kept finding."
The disappointment of the race was the favourite Romancer, who settled three back on the rail but once into the clear he could make no impression and finished seventh. – NZ Racing Desk.
Top Prospect, who is currently side-lined by a hamstring issue, is unbeaten in his last three starts including a victory in last month's Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial and now Swissta has completed his hat-trick of wins.
The son of Swiss Ace finished determinedly to claim top honours in Sunday's Gr.2 Jamieson Park Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie.
"He'd beaten the older horses at his last start and the horse he beat (Courtmaster) came out and just got beaten after that so I was pretty confident," Collett said. "He can sit on the speed and relax."
Swissta did just that and raced on the leader's quarters to the turn before knuckling down to get the better of a gallant Tiptronic and Jon Snow boxed on well for third.
"He's a horse that we bought at the Festival Sale at Karaka as a Karaka Million type and he showed a bit as a late two-year-old, but he is a long-striding horse," said Collett, who has no immediate plans for the gelding. "Not sure yet, we'll get home and have a think about it."
Swissta continued a grand Christmas carnival at Ellerslie for Collett's daughter Alysha, who rode her first Group One winner on Boxing Day aboard Consensus in the Zabeel Classic.
She said she hadn't planned to have Swissta so close to the pace, but a lack of early speed forced her hand.
"I didn't want to sit outside the leader, but there was no pace on. He settled well and kept finding."
The disappointment of the race was the favourite Romancer, who settled three back on the rail but once into the clear he could make no impression and finished seventh. – NZ Racing Desk.