There was a hint of nostalgia involved in Andrew Calder’s winning ride on Queen of Clubs at Rosehill Gardens. As the filly flashed past the post well clear of her rivals in Saturday’s Chandon Hcp, the expat Kiwi couldn’t help but wonder how long it had been since his only previous win on the famous racecourse. Somebody would have told him by now that twenty one years have passed since he won the listed Civic Quality on a gelding called Damigos for local trainer Gerald Ryan. Andrew was just twenty two and starting to build a solid reputation in NZ, when an opportunity arose to spend six weeks with Ryan’s burgeoning Rosehill stable.
“I jumped at the chance,” recalled Andrew. “I knew Gerald had some nice horses in his stable, and the prospect of riding in races alongside so many top riders appealed to me greatly. I rode a lot of work, went around in many trials and Gerald put a generous number of rides my way. Winning on Damigos was a huge thrill. The fact that the Civic Quality was a black type race made it even better. It was also technically my first metropolitan winner. I went back to NZ all the better for the experience.”
Here's a blast from the past thanks to Steve Hart. Andrew wins on Damigos at Rosehill 21 years ago - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
22yo Andrew Calder after his Rosehill win on Damigos for Gerald Ryan in 2004 - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Calder’s race savvy was very evident in Saturday’s two year old event. He speared straight to the fence from a wide gate intent on giving Queen of Clubs every opportunity to cope with the increase in distance. He was slightly concerned when the bold striding Maurice filly started to overdo things on the first turn, but she never got out of control. Andrew had to nudge his way into the clear on straightening where he was six or seven lengths off leader Namaste. The well supported Regulated Affair was looking dangerous while the Godolphin runner Crocodile was under pressure. It took Queen of Clubs fifty metres to hit top gear, but there was a touch of class about her work in the last 100m. The robust filly swept past Regulated Affair to win by a widening 1.5 lengths and looked very much like a miler in the making.
Trainer Gary Portelli wasn’t the only one surprised by the generous odds on offer about the strongly built filly. “Queen of Clubs wasn’t disgraced in any of her three previous runs,” said the astute trainer. “She was unplaced but only 4.6 lengths behind Bel Merci in the Gimcrack Stakes last October followed by a seventh beaten under three lengths by The Playwright at Rosehill after which we turned her out. We hit a hurdle next preparation when she displayed shoulder soreness before her first barrier trial. The vets couldn’t identify the exact problem, so we simply backed off and worked her through it. She seemed fine but we decided on three trials just to make sure she was well over it. Her first up run was a pleasing fifth, under two lengths behind Zebra Finch at Rosehill. I thought she was way over the odds on Saturday, especially stepping up to 1400m.”
Queen Of Clubs looked a quality filly as she hit the line in Saturday's Chandon Hcp - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Gary’s association with Andrew Calder began when he enlisted the services of the experienced Kiwi rider for a couple of difficult horses at the Warwick Farm barrier trials. “The fact is most jockeys avoid problem horses at the trials, but Andrew was more than happy to help out,” said Portelli. “He did a great job on a couple of wayward ones, and I assured him I’d give him some race rides when the opportunity presented itself. He rode a filly called Long Legs in a couple of barrier trials and I was able to put him on in two maiden races at Canterbury, for a second and a fourth. He gave her every chance on both occasions. With a few of my usual riders away in Queensland on Saturday I was delighted to engage him for Queen Of Clubs and you saw the result. This bloke’s ridden over 1000 winners in three countries including a dozen Gr 1’s. You can’t buy that kind of experience.”
Andrew gained the fundamentals of horse management from respected trainer Dianne Sergeant at Hawkes Bay on the east coast of the North Island. He literally learned to ride on the stable pony before being indentured as an apprentice jockey. Dianne Sergeant provided his first win with Where’sMyDad at Foxton in 1999, and a promising career was up and running. He was a rapidly improving young jockey by the time his indentures were transferred to Cambridge trainer Chris McNab with whom he would spend the last six months of his junior term. Perhaps the best endorsement of his talents on becoming a fully fledged jockey was an offer of regular stable riding from high profile trainer Roger James. He enjoyed a successful and harmonious four years with the multiple Group 1 winning horseman.
More than 20 years on Calder's still booting home winners in Australia. Here he is winning on Stay Tuned at Goulburn in April - first leg of a double on the day for the Paul and Martha Cave stable - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The accomplished jockey tasted international racing for the first time in 2006 when he gained a six month contract in Singapore, at the time a mecca for Australian and New Zealand riders. He jetted off to his new job shortly after finishing second with 104 wins to Lisa Cropp (146) on the NZ jockey’s premiership.
In 2011 news of Calder’s achievements attracted the attention of legendary NZ trainer Paddy Busuttin who was enjoying a sea change in Macau. Paddy had former Kiwi galloper Imabayboy right on target for the Triple Crown - Macau Guineas, Derby and Gold Cup with healthy bonuses on the line for any horse completing the treble. Andrew couldn’t resist the temptation when Paddy offered him the ride on Imabayboy in all three races and assured him a three month contract was a mere formality should he choose to stay.
Calder rode a copybook race to get the gelding home in the Guineas and an even better one to win the Macau Derby. He brought Imabayboy from worse than midfield right along the fence to snatch the prize, and the local press lauded his effort. There’s little doubt the chestnut gelding with a spectacular white blaze would have given the Macau Gold Cup a mighty shake, but it was not to be. Imabayboy suffered a serious injury which robbed him of the opportunity to win the prestigious treble. Calder’s three month stay in the former Portuguese colony turned into seven years, at a time when horse racing was enjoying a boom period. He recorded over 200 wins in Macau, many of them for former jockey turned trainer Geoff Allendorf.
Andrew Calder rider of seven New Zealand Gr. 1 winners and five in Macau - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
His memorable Derby win was one of five Macau Gr 1’s for the likeable jockey. His NZ tally at the elite level rests at a very healthy seven - New Zealand Stakes (DeeBee Belle), Zirna (NZB Breeder’s Stakes), Regal Krona (Avondale Cup), Cluden Creek (Wellington Cup), The Mighty Lions (Avondale Cup), Sedecrem (Waikato Draught Sprint), and Imananabaa (Railway Sprint). He enjoys the bragging rights to having won the listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie on Vegas Showgirl destined for breeding barn immortality as the dam of world champion Winx.
Andrew was involved in the worst race fall of his career in 2022 when knocked out after parting company with Lady Deb 300m after the start of a two year old race at Ruakaka. The green filly lost her footing when racing tight between runners, unseating Andrew before landing on top of the hapless jockey. He was later airlifted to Whangarei Hospital where doctors diagnosed three stable vertebrae fractures and four broken ribs. Andrew was immensely relieved to learn that no surgery was required, and he happily accepted the fact that he would need to wear a “halo brace” for a period of six weeks. At the time of the accident Andrew and wife Natasha had already begun to plan their move to Australia.
It’s well documented that Natasha Calder is the daughter of Richard and Judy Collett, both former successful jockeys who’ve transitioned effectively to the training ranks. Richard and Judy are the parents of Jason and Alysha Collett, two of Sydney’s most respected jockeys. Around the time of Andrew’s Ruakaka mishap, Richard and Judy sold up at Pukekohe and made the stressful move to Sydney flying ten horses over at the same time. They had already arranged to take over the Warwick Farm stables previously occupied by daughter-in-law Clare Cunningham. Clare, wife of Jason Collett had opted to put her training career on hold while attending to the duties of motherhood. Suffice to say the Collett operation is a family business in every sense of the word.
Richard and Judy Collett with Struff after a win at Hawkesbury soon after their relocation to Warwick Farm - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“We’re all on the team,” says Andrew. ‘Richard and Judy never stop while Natasha and I ride the bulk of the trackwork six days a week. Jason helps out when needed although he’s immensely busy looking after trainers who support him around the clock. When it comes to the ups and downs of the racing game we’re all on the same page. There are jockeys past and present everywhere you look in the Collett camp. Many have forgotten the success my wife Tash enjoyed in her short career. She rode around 270 winners and has a very important Gr 1 on her record. She won the 2011 Railway Stakes on Miss Raggedy Ann for the great Lance O’Sullivan who knows a bit about race riding. Miss Raggedy Ann gets the odd mention around the dinner table.”
Three years into their Australian adventure Andrew and Tash are the proud parents of eight year old twin boys Jax and Tye, while five year old Levi does his best to get a slice of the action. “We have morning help for a few hours while Tash and I get twelve horses worked, and Nanna Judy helps out at home on request,” says Andrew. ‘Between us we get the job done. Like many racing stables the task would be near impossible without family.”
Riding statistics can be difficult to ascertain when jockeys have ridden in multiple countries. Andrew is certain his NZ win tally sits on 832, with 200 in Macau, 20 in Singapore and 22 in Australia. The 43 year old is comfortable with his assessment of 1074. He says he can present at 55 kgs any day of the week, with 54 kg not impossible for the right ride. His work ethic is indisputable, and his race technique is the product of more than twenty five years in the saddle. As Gary Portelli says, “you can’t buy that kind of experience.” Andrew says an Australian Gr 1 win would put the icing on the cake. Queen Of Clubs might be the one. She’s big and strong and can hit the line with relish. Portelli will get her out to a mile next preparation, and won’t she love it!
Andrew may have been thinking about his previous trip to the Rosehill winners circle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Queen Of Clubs (outside in white colours) about to swamp her rivals in the Chandon Hcp at Rosehill - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)