He is far from writing him off as a winning chance for the Darren Weir-trained stayer.

The Ballarat-based Allen said Hurdy Gurdy Man’s credentials were better than most in the field.

“He’s better than his odds suggest,” Allen said.

While Hurdy Gurdy Man is yet to show much in his three starts this preparation, Allen said as a seven-year-old entire, it was taking him a little longer to find his best.

He struck third-up last year with a win after two ordinary starts and went on to produce some fabulous runs, winning the Murtoa and Hamilton Cups, and then finishing third in the Ballarat Cup, and second in the Werribee Cup and Bagot Handicap.

While he carried 60kg in last year’s Ballarat Cup, he has 58.5kg on his back this time.

Barrier 12 will not maker it easy, but Allen aims to find a spot midfield to settle.

Getting a cup rider is also a significant moment for Allen, who relocated from Ireland and joined the Weir stable looking for more opportunities as a jumps jockey a few years ago.

With his weight down 57kg, Allen is now riding regularly on the flat and an engagement in a race of the stature of the Ballarat Cup is a reward for the work he has down.

His biggest wins are still over the jumps, combining with Gotta Take Care in the likes of the Australian Hurdle.

WHILE on the Irish theme, an Irish-bred import landed the money in the Ballarat Cup last year.

International victories are now a trend in Australia.

There’s the Irish-bred Count Of Limonade and At First Sight, French-bred Mobaco, and English-bred Motivado facing rthe starting at Sportsbet-Ballarat.

The Mick Price-trained Count Of Limonade appears the best.

He started his career at the Curragh in Ireland and only made his Australian debut in April.

The five-year-old goes into this race fresh, having won the Moe Cup and then not raced since a fifth in the Bendigo Cup on October 29.

At First Sight made his way to Australia for the big-spending Lloyd Williams with outstanding credentials, including a second in the 2010 Epsom Derby.

He had the five starts for Team Williams in 2011, with seconds in the Naturalism Stakes and Bendigo Cup before a 10th in the Melbourne Cup. He then went out of signt, reapparing for Darren Weir almost three years later.

He failed to flatter in his first three runs before an improved last-start second in the Ararat Gold Cup.

Mobaco is another import inherited by the Weir camp – this time via Gai Waterhouse.

He did his racing in France, before arriving at Waterhouse’s, but never raced for her.

Mobaco has had three runs for Weir, but is yet to catch the eye.

Then there is Motivado for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

He raced in England, but has just one win Australia – the Queens Cup in South Australia last year.

RON HUTCHINSON has the distinction of being the longest surviving Ballarat Cup-winning jockey.

He won the Cup on Bold John in 1950.

The 86-year-old Hutchinson will be on course at Dowling Forest on Saturday.

He will be with another veteran of the racing industry, former race caller John Russell.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au