Tjade Collier

Tjade Collier rode nearly 90 winners during his time in the saddle, mostly when riding as stable jockey for Sue Smith’s West Yorkshire stable. 

Born and raised in the Netherlands, he was brought up among horses from his early days. He had his first ride in Britain on the Flat in 2003, but managed only one winner under that code. He had far more success when switching to jumps, riding 14 winners during the 2006/07 campaign.

That tally increased to 24 the following season and he enjoyed a red-letter day at Carlisle on March 26, 2009 when winning the first three races on the card, all chases. The hat-trick comprised Indy Mood and future Grand National winner Auroras Encore for Sue Smith and Cash Man for Evelyn Slack. He ended that season with 23 winners. 

He recorded 22 wins in 2009/10. However, his mounts dried up thereafter. It was for Sue Smith that he recorded his last two victories, three days apart, on Lackamon in long-distance handicap hurdles at Wetherby on January 15 and Southwell on January 18, 2011. He rode for the last time under National Hunt rules when finishing second on Camden George in a 2m 6½f chase at Kelso on February 17, 2011.

Tjade had resumed on the Flat in 2010, riding for Richard Guest, Alan Berry and David Nicholls among others. He had what proved to be the final ride of his career aboard Hill Tribe, trained by Richard Guest, finishing 13th of 18 in a one-mile handicap at Thirsk on May 7, 2011.

In January 2017, he was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting the assault and robbery of a taxi driver in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. He was ordered told to pay £980 in compensation and a £140 victim surcharge after being arrested following the incident in October 2016. 

Tjade has since branched out into the training ranks. Starting from scratch, he invested in a new purpose-built 16-box stable block at Wilsden, West Yorkshire, on the other side of the Aire Valley from Sue Smith’s yard. Facilities include a custom-built five-furlong gallop with jumps, a horse walker and ample room for expansion.