SA: Fourth derby sees Allen join elite
By Peter Neall, May 10, 2021 - 8:38 PM

Expat Irishman John Allen joined some elite company when the aptly named Explosive Jack shot away to the roar of the Morphettville crowd to win the Group 1 South Australian Derby last Saturday.
Allen has ridden four of the past six SA Derby winners to move alongside Billy Simpson, who dominated the early days of SA racing, and the great Bobbie Lewis on the race’s honour roll.
Only SA Hall of Famer Mick Medhurst has ridden more SA Derby winners (six).
Last Saturday’s classic was a triumph for Caulfield-based co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who also put the polish on runner-up Let’s Karaka Deel.
Explosive Jack ($4) came three wide from a midfield position to register his fifth win from eight starts and his third derby win of 2021, following triumphs in the Tasmanian Derby at Hobart in Ferbruary and the Australian Derby at Randwick last month.
Let’s Karaka Deel and Explosive Jack may travel to Brisbane for the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on May 29.
Allen’s previous SA Derby winners were Howard Be Thy Name (2016), Volatile Mix (2017) and Russian Camelot (2020).
Frosty at the double
Damian Lane kept up his good success rate in Adelaide when he landed a double on the derby card.
Lane brought up his first winner when the Mick Kluske-trained Going Gaga ($6) came from near last to take out the final of the Autumn Series, over 1400 metres on the Parks circuit.
Joining forces with Murray Bridge horseman Michael Hickmott, Lane brought up his second winner when imported $2.80 favourite Reynolds came from better than midfield to win the 1800-metre Provincial Super Series Final.
Lane has five winners from 20 rides in Adelaide this year.
Bay bags black type
Sebring filly Biscayne Bay looks to have a bright future after her black-type breakthrough in the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Prepared at the Flemington stable of Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, Biscayne Bay charged home from near last under Damien Oliver for a narrow win over maiden $41 shot Blushing Tycoon.
Biscayne Bay, having only her fourth start, was coming off a second to the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Three Kings in the listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington. Those two youngsters started $4.20 equal favourites in the Sires’ but Three Kings failed to come on and finished seventh.
Tortoni too good
Todd Pannell landed his 84th winner for the season when he guided Cherry Tortoni ($2.25 favourite) to a well deserved win in the listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m).
Prepared at the Plumpton stable of Patrick Payne, the Night Of Thunder gelding jumped well and settled midfield before crusing away for a three-length win.
Cherry Tortoni broke a run of five defeats with the win, but hadn’t finished further back than fifth in that period and had run exclusively in group company, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby and second in the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
With leader Jess Eaton out injured, Pannell’s win closed the gap at the top of the Adelaide premiership to five.
Braces for Angus and Eran
Apprentice Angus Chung and senior jockey Eran Boyd took the points at Port Augusta last Friday with a double apiece.
Chung’s winners were Sizzling Bullet, trained by Darren Bonetti, Korodon, trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly, while Boyd won on Kissable Eight for Trevor Montgomerie and the David Halliday-prepared Augusta Rock.
Ryan retires Balf
Trainer Ryan Balfour has announced the retirement of his popular horse Balf’s Choice, who was named after the trainer’s late father, David. Balf’s Choice won 10 of 57 starts and earned $539,305, his best wins coming in the listed Balaklava and Seymour cups of 2017.

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