John Allen had the perfect end to the spring of a lifetime by triumphing on the Darren Weir-trained Kiwia in Saturday’s listed $350,000 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup, 2200m.
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For Allen, the Irishman who arrived in Ballarat seven years ago looking for more opportunities as a jumps jockey, it has been a dream carnival.
He landed two group 1 victories over the Melbourne Cup Week – the biggest being the $2m Victoria Derby.
As far as Allen is concerned, the Ballarat Cup is right up with the best of them.
“It’s a huge thill to win a race like this,” Allen said in his broad Irish accent.
“It’s my adopted hometown now. I’ve been living here seven years.
“The spring, it’s been unbelievable really,” he said.
Allen’s success on the flat has not come overnight.
He has worked long and hard, never harder since his breakthrough group 1 success on Howard Be Thy Name in the 2016 South Australian Derby.
“Obviously it’s been a slow progress after where I’ve been.
“I was riding at the likes of Wycheproof and Burrumbeet three years ago.”
Allen said there was no doubt that working for Weir had meant more and more opportunities and as time went on owners were putting more faith in him.
“I’m getting better rides and it’s all about making the most of the opportunities.
“Darren’s given me the chances to get me to where I am now.”
While Allen was at his best in getting Kiwia home – he quickly found the rails midfield after jumping from a middle barrier and did not go around a horse – he was full of praise for the courage shown by the five-year-old.
Kiwia was momentarily balked by stablemate Tradesman as he looked for an inside run on turning for home.
The stewards report stated that Kiwia was tightened for room at the 450m when obtaining a narrow run on the inside of Tradesman, which lay in slightly before being straightened.
Allen said Kiwia had been brave to take a tight gap and get through.
He said a lot of horses would not have taken it. “He’s a strong horse.”
Getting the inside running was cruicial to the final outcome, with leader Pilote D’essai kicking away.
“When I asked him (Kiwia) to quicken he really extended,” Allen said.
He said he was confident of running down the leader at the 200m.
Allen now sits second to Linda Meech on the Victorian jockeys' premiership.
He left Ballarat Cup Day on 52 wins - five behind Meech - at a strike rate of 19.2 per cent and with his mounts having earned $5.4 million this seasopn .
Allen leads the metropolitan title with 20 wins ahead of Craig Williams.
