Colless set for Sunshine Coast return

Wednesday 25 June 2014, 1:06pm

Top jockey Glen Colless is keen to make up for lost time when he returns from injury at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Colless has declared himself 100 per cent fit for his comeback meeting where he has four rides, featuring Victorian stayer Mr O'Ceirin in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).

The leading Brisbane hoop was having a stellar season riding 74 winners including 37 metropolitan victories before he was injured in a barrier trial accident in late May.

A horse crushed Colless against the barrier uprights and he injured his tail bone.

"It has been a matter of giving it time. I missed the big race days at Eagle Farm in the carnival so I am keen to get back into it.

"My weight is good at the moment and I have been able to take rides at 54.5kgs," Colless said.

Mr O'Ceirin, who won last year's Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m), is top weight (59kg) and likely favourite for the Caloundra Cup.

Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher booked Colless because of his riding style and the fact he knew the Sunshine Coast course so well.

"They tell me it can be a tricky course to ride so I thought we might go with a Queensland rider," Maher said.

"Also I am told he is very patient and a good judge of pace."

Mr O'Ceirin has had a mixed winter having run second in both the Hollindale Stakes and Eagle Farm Cup.

However, he has also had some bad luck losing fourth place on protest in the Brisbane Cup last start on June 7.

"Apparently, the track is the softest in the state and as I have said several times O'Ceirin is up with the top liners in the wet but probably a length off them on dry tracks," Maher said.

Maher is likely to get his wish with the Sunshine Coast track rated slow this week and at best likely to be dead on Saturday.

It may not be the end of the winter for O'Ceirin who could stay on for the Queensland Cup (3200m) on Saturday week.

"Another option is to chase a second Grafton Cup with him next month but we will have to wait to see how he races on Saturday," Maher said.

– AAP

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