Leading Victorian jockey John Allen, with 19 Group 1 wins in the bank, and he will contest his first Darwin Cup (2050m) on Monday.
The $200,000 feature at Fannie Bay – the biggest race in the NT, will draw the curtain on the month-long Darwin Cup Carnival, with the Ballarat-based rider partnering Grandslam for leading Top End trainer Gary Clarke.
Grandslam hails from the stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, but was sent to Darwin to emulate the success of Playoffs, who won the Darwin Cup last year under the guidance of Clarke when sent north by Maher and Eustace.
In his one and only start at Fannie Bay, Grandslam, a six-year-old gelding, finished at the tail in 10th place behind Darwin Cup favourite Noir De Rue in the weight-for-age Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) on July 15.
Allen, returning from suspension when he makes his debut on the Fannie Bay dirt, has ridden the son of Myboycharlie on four previous occasions as a three-year-old.
Following a third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the following month, a fourth over 1300m at Sandown, and a second over 1400m at Flemington in September 2020.
Allen’s last ride on the horse was in February 2021, when the pair finished 12th in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
In 23 starts, Grandslam’s first win was as a two-year-old at Morphettville over 1250m before taking out the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) by six lengths at Moonee Valley in 2021 and the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) by five lengths at Caulfield last year.
Should Grandslam salute on Monday, Allen will join an impressive list of high-profile Australian jockeys to win the Darwin Cup since 2000: Hugh Bowman, Chris Munce, Robbie Fradd, Peter Hall, Neil Paine, Justin Potter, Mark Pegus, Shayne Cahill, Nathan Stanley and Steven Arnold.
Allen, also a jumps jockey, initially rode sparingly for Maher and Eustace, who have stables at Ballarat, Cranbourne, and Warwick Farm, but he has since booted home over 240 winners for the stable.
“I probably formed a closer relationship with Ciaron and David ever since Darren Weir got suspended,” Allen said.
“They came in and took over Darren’s stable in Ballarat.”
Grandslam ($10) was on the sixth line of betting at around 4.30 p.m. on Sunday, behind Noir De Rue ($4.60), Wolfburn ($5.50), Sanblas ($7), Write Your Name ($7.50) and Lake’s Folly ($9).
“Obviously, it would be great if the horse can run well,” Allen said during a stroll through the Darwin CBD on Sunday.
“He’s a little one-dimensional Grandslam, even when he’s going well.
“Everyone here tells me to stay away from the kickback, but he normally goes forward.
“I had a look around the track the other day.
“It looks like Darwin Cup is a big social event, I’m looking forward to it.
“Just the one ride—having been suspended, I’m a little bit heavy at the moment.
“My suspension ended today, so I was unable to ride at Fannie Bay on Saturday even if I wanted to.”
The 38-year-old has been sidelined since July 5 after receiving a 30-meeting suspension for his involvement in the incident that saw Linda Meech fall during a race at Flemington on June 17.
He might have a rating of 91, but in his past three starts, Grandslam was 10th in the Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick, 12th in the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Trophy (2200m), and 14th in the Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.
However, Allen, who can meet Grandslam’s impost of 59kg in the Darwin Cup, is optimistic.
Apart from being guests at the Darwin Turf Club’s “Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon” on Thursday, Allen and fiancé Emma Church, a trainer, have also enjoyed a holiday in the NT.
“To get away from the winter in Ballarat more than anything else was the main reason,” he said.
“I had this trip booked for a while; it’s a little bit of a holiday.
“We couldn’t come originally because of COVID, and I was back home in Ireland this time last year.
“Darwin is very nice; I’m enjoying the weather.
“We were at Kakadu for a few days and went to Litchfield National Park.
“The Darwin Cup is on as well, and I always wanted to go to that.
“I was aware that Ciaron and David were sending a few horses up targeting the Darwin Cup, so it kind of worked out that way.
“The luncheon was a good day, and we went to the Gala Ball last night, that was a great night.
“We leave Wednesday, and we’re going back on The Ghan, the train from Darwin to Adelaide.
“Get to Adelaide on Saturday and then back home to Ballarat.”
Allen, who had his bucks party in Las Vegas last month, and Church are to be married later this year.
Grandslam Odds For 2023 Darwin Cup
Race 10 – 
#2 Grandslam (6)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: John Allen (59kg)
$11.00 with PlayUp
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