New Zealand apprentice Jason Collett hopes to return to ride in Sydney this year and victory in Saturday's Tauranga feature race can only help his cause.Collett got Montjee home by a nose in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) less than a week after returning from Australia where he rode for one of Sydney's top trainers, New Zealander Chris Waller.Collett, 19, had two weeks with Waller as part of a New Zealand apprenticeship award and made a mark."From about 20 rides I had two winners on the Sapphire Coa
New Zealand apprentice Jason Collett hopes to return to ride in Sydney this year and victory in Saturday's Tauranga feature race can only help his cause.
Collett got Montjee home by a nose in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) less than a week after returning from Australia where he rode for one of Sydney's top trainers, New Zealander Chris Waller.
Collett, 19, had two weeks with Waller as part of a New Zealand apprenticeship award and made a mark.
"From about 20 rides I had two winners on the Sapphire Coast and was about a nose from a hat-trick," Collett told NZPA.
Collett said Waller was keen for him to return in September for about two months.
"It was his idea," Collett said.
"I've been keeping in contact with him and I'm hopeful of going back towards the end of winter.
"I rode in Sydney as well and it was a great experience against their top riders."
Collett is currently fighting out second place with Rosie Myers in the New Zealand apprentices' championship with James McDonald a runaway leader and also topping the senior ranks.
Myers will be having her own Australian experience this week when she travels to Melbourne for a seven day stint with Patrick Payne.
She will ride at Geelong on Tuesday and also at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Collett, 19, has been riding for just two years.
He is apprenticed to his father Richard and is one of three apprentices currently riding with the name Collett. The other two are his sister Natasha and cousin Samantha.