Victorian apprentice Ben Allen must have been disappointed when he was overlooked for the Hobart Cup ride on Darren Weir’s imported stayer Big Duke – but he did his best to hide it.
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“That’s racing,” Allen said after being reunited with the horse in the Launceston Cup and guiding him to an emphatic win.
Despite winning successive races on Big Duke in Melbourne, Allen was replaced by senior jockey Brenton Avdulla when he ran second in the Hobart Cup 2-½ weeks ago.
“It was just one of those things – I had other rides for Darren that weekend,” Allen said.
“It’s good to have been given the opportunity to get back on him.”
Allen said his Launceston Cup ride wasn’t without its anxious moments.
“I was a bit worried when the horse got further back than I expected,” the apprentice said.
“But I always had cover and, once he started tracking up, I always thought he was going to win.”