Racing: Experience wins out at Ellerslie

Ben Allen rides Lily The Pink to victory in the first leg at Ellerslie. Photo / Trish Dunell

Victorian apprentice Ben Allen was the individual star of the show at Ellerslie yesterday evening but his valiant efforts weren't enough for his youthful side to land the Jockeys' World Cup Prelude.

The 18-year-old won the opening event, the Edwards Sound Maiden (1400m), aboard Lily The Pink and completed a double when he guided Monrecour to victory in the feature event, the Barfoot & Thompson Twilight Cup (1500m).

But the inaugural event and a $3000 prize was won by the senior team of Jason Collett, Damian Lane and Jamie Kah, riding under the Vodafone International banner with a winning points tally of 84.

Auckland Racing Club executive general manager of racing operations Craig Baker said the concept was particularly well-received and the on-course attendance of 4500 exceeded expectations.

The Red Barn Apprentices team of Allen, Shaun McKay and Sam Weatherley finished runner-up with 73 points ahead of the Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand side of Matt Cameron, Chris Johnson and Michael Coleman on 51 and the Headquarters Viaduct Women's line-up of Alysha Collett, Sam Collett and Trudy Thornton with 48.

However, Allen can be proud of his efforts and he predicted further success for the Roger James-trained Monrecour.

"We got a beautiful run throughout," he said. "She bounced well and I used that to our advantage and the horse was tough. She's got the right attitude about her."

The four-year-old sat in the trail and, once into clear air, she rounded off strongly to account for the favourite Romancer. Monrecour had also won her previous start in Rating 65 company at Pukekohe and patient handling by James has been the key to her progression.

"She hasn't always had the rub of the green and we've had to wait for her, but the owners are getting rewarded," he said.

A daughter of Zacinto, the grey Monrecour has now won three times from 10 appearances and has only once failed to bank a cheque.

Meanwhile, Allen made an immediate impact in New Zealand when he won the opening leg yesterday.

He had tipped Lily The Pink to be his best prospect on the twilight programme prior to the Edwards Sound Maiden (1400m) and duly produced a copybook ride to rein the favourite to a comfortable victory.

"She did everything right," Allen said. "She felt the track, it was a little bit firm and she'll be much better with some cut in the ground, but she got the job done."

He settled Lily The Pink close to the pace and was out to challenge 250m from home before drawing clear to beat the pacemaker Zenvo and Jason Collett by a length and a-quarter with Rondinella a late-finishing third under Matt Cameron.

Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Lily The Pink was making her seasonal debut following a break after one appearance as a two-year-old.

Her connections gave an indication of their regard for the daughter of Makfi when she was pitched straight into black type company in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m) and finished a creditable fourth behind Haussmann.

"She's not overly tall, she's quite compact, and she's showed a lot of ability all the way through," Forsman said.

Lily The Pink holds Group One nominations for next month's Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham and the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in the autumn.

●Princess Rihanna will return to Ellerslie on Boxing Day for the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

"We looked at the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni this Saturday, but we want to give her a little bit longer between races and Ellerslie will set her up better for the summer months," said Andrew Scott, who trains the Showcasing filly with Lance O'Sullivan.

Meanwhile, the stable's runners at Hastings today include the promising Tavistock three-year-old Aero De Paris in the Trinity Hill Mile (1600m).

Jessie May (race four), Hello Sailor (race five) and Sound Of Music (race six) are also rated each way chances. NZ Racing Desk