Apprentice Anthony Allen rode his way into the Queensland record books when he recorded a quintet of winners at Doomben on Saturday.
Riding with hearing aids in both ears and the memory of his late sister in his heart, Allen showed his more experienced rivals how it was done with an exemplary performance.
Allen, 19, who lost 20 per cent of his hearing in each ear during childhood, rides with a green hearing aid in his right ear and a pink one in his left.
The devices have special meaning for Allen with the pink aid in memory of his sister Indiana who died before her second birthday more than two years ago while waiting for liver transplant.
“This is a huge thrill for me. I thought I had a good book of rides and I was confident I would have a good day but to ride five winners is a massive bonus,” Allen said.
“Indiana is my inspiration. She rides with me all the time.”
Allen’s wins came aboard Double Image, Modern Warfare, Racing Heart, Lucky Luna and Bradbury Chocolate.
Official Racing Queensland record books show the previous apprentice to ride five winners on a city track was the late Ivan Wernowski who completed the feat at Doomben on April 23, 1978.
Allen said he was already focused on achieving his next goal.
“I’ve ridden 99 winners all up now,” he said.
“I want to get the 100 up as soon as possible and then I really want to win the apprentices’ title next year. That’s a major goal for me.
Bradbury Chocolate came to Doomben from Toowoomba looking to stretch her unbeaten record to seven in the Timeform Hcp (1110m).
It seemed like an impossible task on the home turn but the bush filly unleashed a powerful sprint under hard riding from Allen to get the money.
Until Saturday, Bradbury Chocolate had never been on a grass track having done all her racing on the dusty outback surfaces at Roma and Charleville and the artificial track at Toowoomba.
Bought for just $800 by trainer Don Baker as a birthday present for his partner Peta, Bradbury Chocolate took her earnings to $86,700 with her first city win.
Apprentices had a 100 per cent strike rate at Doomben with Rosie Myers riding two winners and Maija Vance one.
