Star jockey Jason Collett and Melbourne trainer Scott Cameron know more about each other than they care to remember after growing up together in New Zealand.
The pair, who rode work together and went to school together as teenagers, get the opportunity to combine again with Elouyou at Randwick on Saturday.
Scott Cameron and Jason Collett think they have found the right race for Elouyou at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“He would have been the best man at my wedding if I had one,” Collett said. “He knows stuff about me that no one else does. We grew up together and did a lot together.
“It would be one of my best days if we can win this race on Saturday because we are such good mates.
“I have won stakes races for [my wife] Clare and a group 2 for dad in New Zealand, which were pretty special, and it would be up there with those wins.”
While Collett’s career has flourished with group 1 success, Cameron, the son of great trainer Russell, has battled since his father died a few years ago and only has a couple of horses.
Elouyou is the flagbearer for the young trainer, and, after seven starts, he is yet to miss a placing with two wins.
“I worked for dad and went into partnership with him before he died,” Cameron said. “I had to give up the boxes at Flemington after dad died because I didn’t have enough horses, but Simon Zahra has looked after me and sub-leased me a couple of boxes. It saved me.
“I have a really good owner that is prepared to spend a bit of money, and this bloke [Elouyou] is the first one we spent a bit of money on, and he is all right.