Alysha Collett rides winner after injury

Alysha Collett has ridden her first winner since being sidelined with serious injuries suffered in a fall in Singapore.

She is a member of the famous New Zealand racing family which includes her brother Jason, Australia’s latest Group One winner on Invincibella in the Tatt’s Tiara.

Alysha Collet sustained a serious injury to her L1 lumbar vertebra, along with a fractured right heel when she fell from her mount at Kranji on October 14.

Following successful spinal surgery, she spent the next six months recuperating in New Zealand.

Collett is riding in New Zealand while she waits for her visa to be approved so she can return to Singapore where she has been granted another contract.

On Saturday at Ruakaka, she finally got off the mark on the Chris Gibbs and Michele Bradley-trained Poker Face at her 27th ride back.

“It just feels so good to get the monkey off my back,” Collett told NZ Racing Desk.

“It hasn’t actually been that long but it seems like an eternity since I had my last winner given what has gone on.

“I’ve been really thankful for the rides I have been getting since I started back and I knew it was just a matter of time until I got the win but I wanted it that much, it did start to get a little frustrating.

“I’m going to ride here for another week or so then I’m having a ten-day holiday after that.

“When I get back, I will start riding here again but hopefully by then my visa for Singapore will have come through.

“Without the visa it puts your plans up in the air a little but if I can get that sorted out before the start of the new New Zealand season that would be a big help.”