Collett to confirm standing in Villiers

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Dec 21 AAP - Jason Collett is the quiet achiever of Sydney racing this season.

And on Saturday the New Zealander is a realistic chance of making further inroads when he chases a breakthrough Australian stakes win on Thumbtacks in the Villiers Stakes.

Without much fanfare but with support from prominent Sydney trainers, most notably Chris Waller, Collett has racked up 20 metropolitan wins since moving to Sydney in August.

The form of last season's champion New Zealand apprentice has him pressing for a top five-place in the Sydney jockeys' premiership.

Collett rides the Waller-trained Thumbtacks in the Group Two Villiers (1600m), buoyed by the statistics which show the galloper Thumbtacks saves his best for Warwick Farm.

Collett says his move to Sydney had exceeded expectations.

"The three months I spent here last year went unbelievably well, I didn't expect that," he said.

"But to come back and have 20 winners in the city so far, I couldn't be happier.

"I set a few goals and so far they are on track so I'm really pleased."

Thumbtacks has given Collett two of his city wins and he says the gelding has progressed nicely towards the summer feature despite being out of the placings in his past two starts.

He is a $14 chance in Villiers betting.

"His runs have probably been better than what they seem," Collett said.

"He was slow away last start (in the Festival Stakes) and got back in the field when we wanted to be up handy.

"The last 100 metres he was actually making ground.

"I personally thought he would improve off the run too, so I'm pretty happy going into the Villiers."

Thumbtacks has won eight from 43 but his strike rate at Warwick Farm is much better with five wins and four placings from 13 starts.

Monton is striving to become the fist dual winner of the Villiers while Hugh Bowman, who rode Monton last year, is on rival Cabernet after dominating the meeting 12 months ago.

Bowman won four races on the corresponding day last year including the feature double of the Villiers and Listed Razor Sharp Handicap.

He has seven rides on Saturday including Queenslander Adebisi in the Razor Sharp (1200m).

Galah is favourite in an open market to give Darley's head trainer Peter Snowden his first Villiers win.