Jim Allen returns with horse who defied leg break, snake, spiders and hurricanes

Jim Allen, the former top racecourse executive in Britain who has been training in the United States, is planning a return to Britain.

Allen spent 15 years with Arena Racing Company, latterly as director of racing, before crossing the Atlantic for a change of career. He has spent time assisting the legendary Michael Dickinson and recently saddled his first winner when Godolphin cast-off Hardest Part, who has overcome a catalogue of misfortune, scored on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

Allen would like to win a turf race with the plucky six-year-old before coming back home, and said: "I picked him up from Ascot Sales before I came out here.

"He'd broken a leg in his first breeze with Godolphin but they operated and saved him, inserting three screws, which he still has, and when he was well enough they sent him to the sales. I got him for £3,000 unraced, and he's now won over $40,000.

"I'd always wanted to buy a Godolphin horse as I'd had a wonderful time working for Darley before I went to work in racecourse management."

Allen continued: "I didn't do anything with him for a year and a half as I was busy developing a 147-acre training centre in Florida that had fallen into disrepair. I left the horse out for the entire time in a huge field hoping his leg would hold up and strengthen as he grew.

"Thankfully all went well, despite a very close encounter with an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, a million black and brown widow spiders and Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew - all of which tried but failed in killing Hardest Part."

Jim Allen: planning imminent return to Britain to continue training careerCredit: Ian Walton (Getty Images)

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, as the saying goes, and the perseverance of Allen and his gelding have paid off.

"I've been thinking about returning home since the end of last year," said Allen. "US racing has many pros and cons, and the cons were by then weighing heavily on my mind.

"Before I came back to the UK I wanted to try to win a race with my little horse - he's only 15.2hh and dwarfed by the big American thoroughbreds.

"After a spell assisting Michael Dickinson in 2018, which was wonderful, I took Hardest Part to Lexington as I thought it would be easier to win in Kentucky than on the east coast.

"I'm sure he's a seven-furlong fast-turf horse, but we simply couldn't get that for him. After 13 starts in the wrong races for him, and after five seconds and three thirds, he finally broke his maiden at Presque Isle Downs."

Allen is eyeing a race at Aqueduct this Saturday as he tries to sign off from the US with a victory on turf.

"After Hardest Part runs I plan to put him into quarantine and head home," he said.

"Back in Europe I've a few friends willing to send me a few horses to get started. I'm looking for a base but it isn't easy finding something affordable, as the Racing Post's recent story on trainer finances spelt out."

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app