Jockey Samantha Collett continues her winning ways

Samantha Collett and Call Me Royal holding off a late challenge at Te Rapa. Photo / Trish Dunell

Last season's leading jockey Samantha Collett continued her winning ways when she was successful on Call Me Royal in the Distinction Hamilton Hotel 2100m at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Waikato woman and her Tarissa Mitchell-trained mount led from the beginning and was able to hold off the race favourite Youwantmore and a late challenge from El Disparo despite carrying the highest weight.

"I was really worried about that horse [Youwantmore] with its light weight and I was thinking please don't take us on," Mitchell said.

"But he [Call Me Royal] is the man and I just love this horse."

Collett had nothing but good things to say about the seven-year-old son of Civics.

"It was a good tough effort as I thought the favourite may go up and annoy me with the light weight," Collett said.

"I let my horse settle and one he gave himself a breather, he got into his second rhythm."

"He was really brave to the line carrying the top weight."

Collett completed the 2017/2018 season with a tally of 132 wins, which was 26 wins clear of previous season's leading jockey Chris Johnson.

She also surpassed her personal best of 80 wins by 52 wins, had nine group or listed race wins, lowered her strike rate by 1.82 and even surpassed her jockey premiership-winning father's best season.

Her dad, Jim Collett, is a retired jockey and he now trains.

His career highlight was 123 wins in the 90s and his eldest daughter has surpassed him.

Her mum, Trudy Thornton, is still an active jockey and has 1060 wins to her name.

Collett has been invited to represent New Zealand and Australia in the All-Star World Jockeys' Series in Japan at the end of this month.