JOHN ALLEN completed a perfect ride on favourite Furrion to secure back-to-back Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cups and simultaneously create May Racing Carnival history.
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Furrion stormed home to edge out Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra's Sheezdashing by under a length with the Tony McEvoy-trained Divanation following a long neck behind in third.
The Ballarat-based trainer, who rode his fourth winner of the carnival and became the first rider to win multiple Warrnambool Cups and Grand Annual Steeplechases, said he knew Furrion would deliver as the pre-race favourite.
"He had the right credentials coming into the race and he was the horse with the most upside and he has shown a lot of potential," he said.
"Darren Weir always had a high rap on him and it's good he is fulfilling his potential."
The 34-year-old, who becomes the first jockey since Brad Rawiller to win back-to-back cups, said he knew he had to make the most of an opening as Furrion steamed towards the post.
"I was in front a long way and that run presented itself on the inside and I had to take it," he said.
"He really is a momentum horse and you have to keep him to his work and when I got there I didn't just want to sit I wanted to keep him going.
"He oiled a bit up the straight but I felt he would pick up again if someone else came but it was good to get the win."
Allen, who also won his fourth Galleywood Hurdle on Wednesday, said there was a big difference between his two wins in the Warrnambool Cup and his two major victories at this year's carnival.
"The horse last year (Gallic Chiefttain) was a good horse but he was a $16 shot but the horse today was a favourite and he was expected to win," he said.
"Yesterday everything fell right where today I thought I was definitely on the right horse today, where as last year the race just fell in our lap, where everything worked out beautifully."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
