No picnic for Allen on Yogi at Flemington

Darryl Sherer - Saturday August 5

Yogi made John Allen earn every cent of his riding fee when winning the Oliver Street Plate (2500m) at Flemington on National Jockey Celebration Day.

Advertisement
John Allen and Yogi winning the Oliver Street Plate.  Photo: Darryl Sherer

Allen was hard at work before the home turn on the easing $3.20 Darren Weir-trained favourite and was still pushing hard into the home straight as stablemate Chequered Flag struck the front.

Allen kept driving and Yogi responded, lifting in the final strides to edge Chequered Flag ($3.60 - $3.30) and score by a short half head with Kawabata ($21 - $13) making up ground for third, a further two lengths away.

It was the first win at Flemington for Allen who said the five-year-old was a relaxed individual.

"He's a real laid back character which in some ways is hard for me but it's good for him as he saves his energy," Allen said.

"We rolled along at a good tempo and we were spread out a bit.

"We had to make a long run around them - I always thought I was going to get there but we did only just.

"Thank god he put his head down and picked up for me."

Yogi finished runner-up last time out over 2100m at Sandown and Allen said the step up in trip suited the son of Raise The Flag.

"He travelled into IT pretty well but I had to put some pressure on him 600m out," Allen said.

"Once we got to the outside in the straight I always thought he was going to get there.

"Fair play to the runner-up, he really found when I came to him and really made my horse work to get past him."

Advertisment
More Reading...
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.