Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett counts himself lucky to still have such a smart spring prospect as Selfie still in his care.
“He’s a lovely horse with ample talent and I would expect him to go on with it,” he said. “So many of these young horses get sold so I’m proud to have him back in our stable.”
“It’s common knowledge that Arthur races his horses, he’s not a trader,” Collett said.
Selfie was a debut winner before Christmas and a placing followed before he was narrowly denied by the New Zealand-bred Australian visitor Hardline in the Listed Karaka Million in January.He again finished runner-up after missing the jump in the Listed Matamata Slipper and ended his campaign with a close sixth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“He’s been back in training about a fortnight and he’s furnished a lot during his break,” Collett said.“He’s come back quite robust and he’s obviously a horse that will get 1600 metres later on.”
Selfie will be on a path later this year to the major three-year-old events and Collett also has an exciting prospect in the fillies’ ranks.Untamed Diamond, also part-owned by Avis, followed up a debut second behind the subsequent Group One winner Marky Mark with a victory at Ruakaka.
She then finished fifth from an outside gate in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and was spelled after running second at Ellerslie in March.“She’s lengthened and grown quite a lot,” Collett said. “She’s a good filly and did well from that draw at Matamata.”
