'Joseph almost has hero status in Oz', says returning Aussie star Allen

Irish-born jockey Johnny Allen, who has made a name for himself as a multiple Group 1 winner in Australia, is thrilled to see State Of Rest getting the respect he thinks he deserves in Ireland and revealed Joseph O'Brien's reputation down under is verging on hero status after his recent exploits at the Spring Carnival.

Allen, who rode State Of Rest to victory in the Cox Plate last October, bridged a nine-year gap since his last ride on home soil with two rides at Roscommon on Tuesday night and he is keen to be a part of Galway's summer bash before returning to Australia.

Allen had no luck at Roscommon, hardly surprising given they had starting prices of 200-1 and 66-1, or at Tipperary on Wednesday night, but he does not leave Ireland until August and is hoping to pick up as many rides as he can before his departure.

Allen told the Racing Post: "I came home just before Royal Ascot. I have two months here, so I thought the best thing to do to keep ticking over and keep on top of my weight was to pick up a few rides, although it's not the easiest place to pick up spare rides over here – it's very competitive.

"I don't go back until the middle of August, so I'll try to pick up as many rides as I can. It'd be nice to ride at Galway and if I could get some rides there it would be great."

State Of Rest provided Allen with the biggest moment of his career when the pair landed the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and nobody was prouder when the rapidly improving four-year-old made all the running under a canny Shane Crosse ride in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Allen said: "It was brilliant to see State Of Rest winning at Ascot. I thought he was underrated before that, but now people over here are realising just how good he is.

"I thought Shane gave him a brilliant ride and he showed everyone what a top-class colt he is. I was delighted for everybody involved."

On State Of Rest's 29-year-old trainer, Allen added: "Joseph almost has hero status in Australia. People can't get their heads around all he has achieved in such a short space of time over there. To win two Melbourne Cups and a Cox Plate in only a couple of years is unbelievable."

'I've had a bit of luck'

Before teaming up with a pair of outsiders trained by his friend Kevin Coleman at Roscommon on Tuesday, Allen's last ride in Ireland was in 2013.

That was in a Grade 3 mares' hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas festival on the Sean O'Brien-trained Caoimhe's Delight, who was second at 33-1.

The 37-year-old jockey has won 17 Group 1s in Australia and earned A$54 million prize-money.

"I never thought things would happen for me over there the way they have," Allen said. "I've had a bit of luck along the way and it's worked out."

On the big difference between riding in Ireland and Australia, Allen said: "There are some very tight tracks in Oz and it can be a bit more tactical. We probably race a little tighter.

"With regard to jumping, we use barriers [stalls] in jump races in Oz and that seems to work well as everyone gets a fair start. That could never work over here with 30 runners in some races, though. You would usually have a max of 12 runners in jump races in Oz."

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