COLLETT JETS OUT TO SAUDI ARABIA

By Graham Potter | Monday, February 21, 2022

Samantha Collett rode her customary winner at Ipswich yesterday … she currently is a clear leader of the Ipswich Jockey’s Premiership … but the next week will bring an entirely new experience for the talented rider who jets off to Saudi Arabia this evening to take part in the stc International Jockey’s Challenge Day to be held at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh this Friday.

As always, Collett is primed for the challenge.

“I know what I am going into to a certain extent at least,” said Collett. “Obviously when you are riding in any new places, there is always the unknown and there is only so much preparation you can do.

“I’m looking forward to the experience

“I just got the four rides that I’ll be allocated (the stc Jockey’s Challenge is held over four legs).

“The Wednesday is a meet and greet and they do the draw for the Saudi Cup … and we’ll get the chance to be introduced to everyone that is there. Thursday will involve a bit of trackwork. Friday is race-day for us … and Saturday is the big Saudi Cup Day.

“That will be an incredible day. The amount of prize-money that is up for grabs there is just amazing. The whole atmosphere will be just fantastic.

“It will be great to witness first-hand … and then it will be back home, where it will be back to work as normal next Tuesday.”

* stc International Jockey’s Challenge Day is billed as a unique event as it the only event of its kind to feature equal numbers of men and women … with seven international female and seven international male jockeys competing as individuals in the Challenge. They will all be riding random allocated, locally trained horses over a series of four races, worth US$400,000 each, with the winner of the Challenge being decided on a points system basis.

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