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Collett resumes at Tauranga with leading stakes mount
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • June 25th, 2026 2:15 pm
Jockey Samantha Collett and Churchillian will reunite in Saturday's Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A refreshed Samantha Collett returns to action at Tauranga on Saturday with a limited book of rides following an overseas break.
However, the 36-year-old still looks to have a strong chance of celebrating her return with a black-type victory aboard the talented mare Churchillian in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m).
“I’ve just come back from a three-week holiday in Europe, which was much needed,” Collett said.
“I’d done a lot of travelling and cutting weight and that eventually takes its toll, but I’m feeling really good now and had my first morning back at the track this (Thursday) morning.
“The next month probably won’t be too busy for me, I’ll just pace myself with the intention of being full on for the new season.”
Collett is in her first full domestic season back following a four-year stint in Queensland and has posted 85 winners, with her earnings reaching a personal best of more than $3.5 million.
“Money-wise it’s obviously been good, I really wanted to get to 100 winners for the season and I’ll fall short of that unfortunately, but in the grand scheme of things it has been good and it’s nice to be home,” she said.
“I left in October 2021 and I’ve been back for just over a year,” she said.
The Pam Gerard-trained Cork provided Collett with her first stakes win on her return when they successfully combined in the 2025 edition of the Tauranga Classic.
“She (Churchillian) has won at Tauranga before so it would be fantastic to win it two years in a row,” Collett said. “I’ve had a couple of wins on her and she’s a fantastic little mare.”
The Tony Pike-trained six-year-old claimed top honours two starts back in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) with her customary frontrunning style and then finished fifth in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m).
“It was the wrong call from me when she won, I was offered the ride and I stuck loyal to Rareza,” Collett said.
“She won really well there and maybe things didn’t go quite right at Wanganui.
“I think she’s at her best when she can utilise her speed, she hits the ground so quickly out of the barriers. That makes my job a lot easier.”
Collett will also be aboard the Pike-trained pair of Overdrawn (Super Liquor Greerton, 1400m) and Starlit Express (Rhys Mischefski Bayleys Whakatane, 1200m).
“My manager has only taken a handful of rides so I can ease my way back into it,” she said.
“Tony and his team have been good and given me three rides, Overdrawn won a few starts back and Starlit Express is fresh up and should be hitting the line well.”
Collett’s book is completed by the Tony Cole-prepared Muchacha (Happy Hire Maiden, 1600m), who was a last-start fourth on the course and should appreciate the step up from 1400m.
