ALLAN SCORES RUSSIAN CAMELOT RIDE

John Allen has secured the ride on Russian Camelot for the South Australian Derby.

Trainer Danny O’Brien confirmed on Wednesday that Allen, who will head to South Australia on Friday to conduct the mandatory two-week quarantine, has won the race to partner the promising colt.

Damien Oliver has ridden Russian Camelot in three of his four career starts but elected not to follow his progress to South Australia due to quarantine requirements that would see him ultimately miss four weeks of race riding.

The Group 1 TAB South Australian Derby (2500m) is run at Morphettville on May 9.

Danny O’Brien has indicated he may keep Russian Camelot in Melbourne for one more run prior to the Derby, or he could travel to Adelaide for the Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) on April 25.

Allen recorded his first Australian Group 1 victory in the South Australian Derby aboard Howard Be Thy Name back in 2016 and made it two on the trot with Volatile Mix in 2017.

Allen has also been booked to partner Affair To Remember in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) on May 2 for Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan.

By Brent Zerafa Racing.com