Tasha Collett wins Ladies Invitational

New Zealand jockey Tasha Collett has won Sunday’s Iris Nielsen Ladies Invitational race at Ballina in the northern rivers region of NSW.

The race honoured Nielsen who was killed in a race fall at Lismore in 1988 and attracted leading female riders from Australia and New Zealand.
Collett won the race aboard the Gordon Yorke-trained Rare Diamond ($13) who raced on the pace throughout the 1400m event.
Rare Diamond beat Course He’s Canny ($31) ridden by Sheree Drake with fellow Queenslander Kylie Cunningham steering Snackman ($6) to third.
The race meeting coincided with the opening of a Lady Jockeys Hall of Fame at Ballina with pioneer female jockey Linda Jones a special guest.