Two wins, another suspension for Collett
Jason Collett will be sidelined for five weeks after a second careless riding suspension in as many city meetings.
The 26-year-old copped a four-meeting suspension after Sangiovese shifted into the path of Lion Couchant on her way to winning the Tab.com.au Handicap at Randwick.
Collett already had a four-week ban, beginning on Sunday, hanging over his head after one of his mounts on Wednesday shifted after the post and caused the rider behind him, apprentice Rachel King, to be dislodged.
“I’ve got a long time to think about it,” Collett said with a wry smile.
Stewards at Randwick noted Sangiovese’s shift was sudden and came moments after Collett gave it a second hit with his whip.
Compounding the young jockey’s frustration, Collett also won the final race of the day to round out a double.
“It’s a bit frustrating because I had a week’s break and started a bit more training in the last week or two and then this happens,” he said.
“I was getting the weight back down.”
Collett says he’ll use the time before his return on September 9 to renovate his new house with his partner, Warwick Farm-based trainer Clare Cunningham.