Collett one to watch

Samantha Collett makes the trip from Matamata to Riccarton today full of enthusiasm.

She is glowing in her praise of rider agent Darryl Anderson who has gathered a powerful nine-horse book for her at the meeting.

Her headline ride is Benzini ($2.40 favourite) the highest rated horse in the $100,000 Group III Canterbury Gold Cup for Hunterville father and son trainers Adrian and Harry Bull.

‘‘He’s the horse to beat,’’ Collett said. ‘‘He’s been a stakes performer in Hong Kong and Australia and should be tough to beat in the race.

‘‘The track conditions are possibly the only concern but his class should overcome that.’’

Collett has gone from strength to strength since teaming up with Anderson and is currently enjoying her best season in 10 years of riding.

‘‘Since D.A. and I teamed up we’ve set goals and already we are ahead of our goals for this season,’ she said.

‘‘Things are ticking along super, but we are still chasing that elusive Group I win.’’

She won’t get a Group I win on Saturday but Benzini in the Group III and Nikita in the Listed Warstep Stakes give her two excellent chances to add to her 16 black-type career wins.

Rides aboard in-form horses Parana ($6.80), Disturbance ($4.50), Benzini’s stablemate William Wallace ($4.20), Nancy ($15), De Chine ($9), don’t forget Million Reasons ($66) in the first race, and 2-year-old Prom Queen give her great opportunities to add to her 56 wins so far this season. That total equals her career best and has her seventh on the jockeys’ premiership.

‘‘Sam gets down south whenever she can and isn’t afraid to travel for good rides,’’ Anderson said.