John Allen has emerged as one of the stars of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
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The Ballarat-based Irishman Allen capped off an exceptional Melbourne Cup Carnival in the saddle with a treble and most significantly a second group 1 victory of the week – saluting on Trap For Fools ($26) in the $2m Mackinnon Stakes, 2000m, at Flemington on Saturday.
Allen has made a stunning transformation since arriving in Australia seven years ago seeking more opportunities as a jumps jockey.
“I took a chance a few years ago and it has paid off.”
While achieving his main objective to land some of Australia’s biggest jumps races, he has also – with the support of master trainer Darren Weir – developed into a force on the flat.
There can be no doubt about that after guiding Extra Brut to victory in the $2m Victoria Derby on the opening day of the four-day Flemington carnival and then scoring on Trap For Fools for Warrnambool trainer Jarrod McLean, who as well as preparing his own team is a stable foreman for Darren Weir.
It was Allen’s first race ride on Trap For Fools, with him getting the amount after suspensions to Dean Yendall and Ben Allen, who had ridden the 5yo at his previous two outings.
Allen's other wins on the day came on the Weir-trained duo of Ringerdingding ($4.40 favourite) in the listed $150,000 Springtime Stakes for 3yos, 1400m, and Kenedna ($10) in the group 2 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes, 2000m.
“Thanks to Darren Weir and all of his team. It’s great to pay them back and Jarrod McLean who does a lot of work with Darren’s team,” Al;len said.
The treble lifts Allen into second position on the Melbourne metropolitan jockleys’ premiership.
He is on 15 wins – one behind Craig Williams.
- More racing, page 30