Racing
Bar raised for in-form colt Swift Legend
Jason Collett has been impressed by Swift Legend’s recent performances but has a warning for punters.
Successive wins in midweek company have earned Swift Legend a shot at better grade, although his progression comes with a caveat from jockey Jason Collett.
Collett has partnered the Dundeel colt to his past two victories at Warwick Farm and Canterbury and is confident he has the natural ability to feature in Sunday's Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.
However, he is also cautious, saying the three-year-old remains a work in progress and will need to do everything right from his outside draw in barrier 10.
"He just needs to do things professionally. He is still that bit raw so that could be his undoing," Collett said.
"He stepped up in trip last time and he was tough and strong . . . but when he got to the front, he was having a good look around. He's still got more to come in that sense, and he does have an engine too.
"The barrier is tricky, but he is heading in the right direction."
Runner-up to James Mcdonald in last season's Sydney jockeys' premiership, Collett has ridden 22 winners so far this term and has bookings in seven of the 10 races at Rosehill.
While happy with his form and his haul of feature race successes over the spring carnival, including taking out The Invitation on Doncaster Mile heroine Stefi Magnetica, he is also rueing his 15 stakes placings.
"I've had a few misses in some of the big races, which has been a bit frustrating, but I've picked up a few Group Twos and Listed races in the last month or so, which has been good," Collett said.
"You always want it to go better. Expectation is a big killer, but we're still going great and I'm very happy with how the season is going so far."
Collett's mounts include one of the more interesting runners at Rosehill, the Chris Waller-trained Elliptical in the TAB Handicap (1400m).
Initially with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Elliptical finished runner-up in the 2022 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before eventually ending up in Hong Kong where he lost form.
Returning to Australia, the six-year-old had his first start in 18 months on The Hunter undercard at Newcastle where he settled back in the field and was only beaten three lengths in a leader-dominated affair.
He has had some specking from $21 into $17 in early markets.
Check out the latest Singapore News