WHEN Irish jumps jockey John Allen rode in an international series in Australia as a teenager he had no idea he would one day be considering making the country his home.
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Eight years later he could not happier in what is his second stint living and working in Ballarat.
“I’m loving it,” Allen said with a broad Irish brogue.
“I’m having a good time.”
Attached to the Dowling Forest stable of Darren Weir, Allen is hoping to stay in Australia for at least a couple of years — even longer if things work out.
From Country Cork, Allen, 27, had his first Australian experience when he represented Ireland in an international jumping riding series in 2004.
He did not see a great deal of the country, riding at Moonee Valley and in South Australia, but he liked what he saw.
So last year when he a newspaper advertisement seeking jockeys interested in riding in Australia for the 2011 jumps season he took the opportunity.
“Things (racing) aren’t going that well at home.
“I’d been thinking about travelling.
“The timing was perfect.”
Allen had worked for Joseph Crowley, who is the father-in-law of internationally acclaimed trainer Aiden O’Brien.
But Crowley retired a few years ago, leaving Allen to basically make it as a freelance jockey.
Allen landed a position with Weir after making enquiries through South Australian trainer Jon O’Connor.
He could hardly have been happier with his first season in Victoria, finishing second on the jumps jockeys’ premiership.
While Steve Pateman was a tearaway winner on 27 wins, Allen led home the rest with eight victories from just the 26 rides.
“I had a good time.
“The plan (last year) was to come for six months and see how it went.”
Allen returned to Ballarat in February, this time with the thought of staying for a few years.
He is again satisfied with the way things have started.
While he has specialised over the jumps in the past, Allen is now looking to increase his opportunities by riding on the flat — especially through the spring and summer when there are no jumps races.
He has had a few rides on the flat , not just in highweight events.
He comfortably rides at 58 kilograms.
“I don’t have any trouble with weight.”
Allen said as long as he ate healthily, he could eat what he liked.
With Weir having one of the state’s leading jumps stables, Allen is optimistic about his immediate opportunities with the jumping season now in full swing.
He has high hopes for Gotta Take Care, which he rates as the best jumper he has ridden in Australia.
Gotta Take Care finished second to champion Black and Bent in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on May 2.
That followed a hurdle win in Ballarat.
The seven-year-old is only in his second season of jumping and boasts two wins and two seconds from four starts.
“He’s quick on his feet and he stays,” Allen said.
Allen also has a soft spot for Via Savoia at Weir’s.
They have combined for four wins, on the flat and over the hurdles.
Another on the up, Via Savoia finished third in the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
Allen continues his season with two rides in Ballarat today — the Patrick Payne-trained QLS Logistics 0-120 Hurdle, 3200m, and Boland in the QLS Maiden Hurdle, 3200m.