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By Ray Hickson

Territory Express is clearly a talent but he’s also a horse that doesn’t make it easy for any jockey and because of that Jason Collett said he can’t go to Kembla Grange on Saturday with a firm plan.

Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).

He does approach the Group 3 $1 million Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) confident he’s on a horse capable of winning, and handing him back-to-back wins in the feature, if he can steer the horse through or past the field without incident.

That hasn’t happened for Zac Lloyd in the gelding’s past two starts but, with Lloyd on the sidelines, Collett said he’s ready what will be a challenge of his own skill.

“More times than not you end up in a difficult position and needing a bit of luck but he does seem to race best like that,’’ Collett said.

“On the flip side you have that confidence you can get out of tricky positions due to the turn of foot he has and that’s how I see it.

“You can’t really have a plan for a horse like that. Your race is dictated to by what happens in the run, how quick they go, how the track plays and the perceived pattern of the day.

“I guess I’ve got to be very open minded.”

Paul Niceforo’s pride and joy last raced at Kembla Grange earlier this year when he stormed down the outside to win a Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier prior to winning the Final at Randwick in April.

The five-year-old, $4.80 with TAB on Thursday, blew the start when he was narrowly beaten by Iknowastar in the Five Diamonds Prelude then only found clear running when the Five Diamonds was all over beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Pericles two weeks ago.

“He could have won both of them had he got that clear air,’’ Collett said.

“I have a bit of confidence going to Kembla, he has won there from a tricky position and you’ve got such a long straight there. So I’m going to have a bit more time than maybe Zac would have had at Rosehill to try and find a run.”

Collett, who won the Gong on Detonator Jack last year, rode Territory Express to his maiden win in September last year and said he was always a raw talent.

“I thought he was above average, his barrier manners were holding him back but it doesn’t surprise me he is where he is,’’ he said.

Import Gilded Water gives Collett the opportunity to put on the royal colours as he rides for King Charles III for the first time in the PFD Food Services Handicap (2000m).

Formerly trained by William Haggas, the four-year-old is now with Ciaron Maher and Collett said he liked what he felt in the horse’s only barrier trial back at the end of last month.

He was due to debut a couple of weeks ago over 1800m but a small setback has held him back and Collett said he doesn’t mind the extra journey.

“I had a sit on him Tuesday morning, and I’m quite happy we’re going to 2000m and I think the track will play to his favour,’’ he said.

“His runs overseas were good, he started well in the market in a handicap at Royal Ascot.

“I spoke to Cieren Fallen (who rode him to win in May) when he was over here for the Eagle and asked him about the horse. He said for a horse to start so short in the market at Royal Ascot it’s a good sign that he’s a stakes grade sort of horse.”

Territory Express runs fifth at Rosehill on November 9

Midnight Opal was “standoff-ish” according to Collett in his second-up placing at Rosehill and he’s pleased to see trainer Nathan Doyle putting the blinkers on him in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m).

The gelding was only beaten 1-1/4 lengths by Fire Star last start, an effort he said wasn’t bad considering he didn’t get interested until the race was all over.

“When I needed him to take me into the race underneath runners he was reluctant to," he said.

“Then when he got some real clear air late he did find the line so (blinkers) are going to be a big plus for him.”

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