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By Ray Hickson

Sydney Cup equal favourite Gilded Water faces his biggest test at Rosehill on Saturday since arriving in Australia but jockey Jason Collett is adamant the best is yet to come.

Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Unbeaten in two starts for Ciaron Maher, the royally owned gelding rises to 61.5kg in the Ranvet Handicap (2400m) having impressed in his victories at Kembla Grange and Randwick.

Collett was on board in that first win where he carried 54kg, before Dylan Browne McMonagle guided him last start under 57kg, and he said he’s been impressed by the progress Gilded Water made between those wins.

“My first impression was it’s a lot of weight but this is his third time in 78 grade and I liked the way he improved last start,’’ Collett said.

“There’s the possibility that he’s improved again. I don’t think 78 grade will be his ceiling.

“And the prospect of a wet track unfolding will be good.”

Both wins have come on reasonably firm ground, particularly the Kembla win in a brutally run 2000m contest, and the impression from the Maher stable is that the four-year-old, owned by His Majesty King Charles III, would appreciate a forgiving track.

His maiden win, prior to being sent down under, was on a soft track at Chepstow and he won that race by 7-1/2 lengths.

Collett said Gilded Water, $1.90 with TAB on Thursday, felt like a real stayer going into his local debut but still got the job done and he visibly relished the step up in distance last month.

“I galloped him on the Tuesday or Saturday before the Kembla race and I remember thinking I was glad he was going over 2000m,’’ he said.

“He was a touch on the bridle through the middle section when I rode him at Kembla, and he took the field up to the leaders. Once he got to the back of them he got into a better rhythm.

“He felt like a stayer and didn’t feel that sharp. He got his head in front that day.

“I was pleased to see there was a turn of foot over 2400m last start, that was good to see, he put them away so easily.”

With some three months remaining before the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), Gilded Water shares the top line of TAB pre-noms betting at $8 alongside Vauban who is now in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.

Consistent gelding Eye Of The Fire will appreciate not seeing Disneck among his rivals in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) and despite an outside barrier Collett feels he can bounce back to his best.

Collett partnered the gelding, trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, to successive wins at the start of his preparation before he was ambushed by Disneck at Randwick on December 14.

They faced off again two weeks later and Eye Of The Fire could only finish fourth after being involved in the early speed battle so Collett is looking forward to the chance to ride him conservatively.

Gilded Water wins at Randwick on December 21

“He’ll get that opportunity, the barrier will really dictate how I ride him,’’ he said.

“Going back to the 1100m I think is a plus and the prospect of a soft track will be too.

“He found two races over 1200m where he was in the perfect position to be winning them but his racing manners probably didn’t allow that.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting