Trish Dunel
Richard Collett isn’t planning on being a stranger to Sydney, despite closing his Warwick Farm stable.
Changes of circumstances have resulted in the Pukekohe Park trainer opting not to continue with his own operation across the Tasman.
A major player in initially establishing the satellite stable was former Peter Moody employee Clare Cunningham, the partner of Collett’s son and established Sydney jockey Jason.
“Clare initially helped to put the structure in place and get things organised and then Quentin Cassidy was my stable foreman before he got a really good offer from the China Horse Club that he accepted,” Collett said.
Race Images Palmerston North
“Now that Clare has got her own training licence, and she’s already training winners, it makes sense to support her with horses we send over and cut our overheads.
“We had a really good spin and enjoyed it. We’ve got a very good idea now of what type of horse is best to go over there after the season we had. We won 11 races, seven provincial and four city races.”
Among Collett’s Australian success stories is Untamed Diamond, who won races at Randwick, Rosehill and Canterbury and was stakes placed at Doomben.
“She did a very good job and she’s back in work with me here. She’ll probably trial at Ruakaka and then go to the weight-for-age race over 1200m at Rotorua in October,” he said, referring to the Gr.3 Lion Red Plate.
“All going well, she will be heading to Christchurch for the Stewards. She’s settled back into the stable really well and as a mature five-year-old she’s up to Group company here.” – NZ Racing Desk.