In a VRC Oaks victory littered with so many subplots it is difficult to know where to start.
The winning horse, Strictly Business, was home-bred from a $600 mare by NZ sire Grunt. As far as bargains go, she was as cheap as chips.
John Allen raises the whip to celebrate his VRC Oaks victory on Strictly Business.Credit: Getty Images
The winning trainer, Thomas Carberry, is from one of Ireland’s most famous racing families, but would not turn a head while walking down a footpath in his adopted home of Ballarat.
He came to Australia to work on a stud, met his wife, Monique, while riding track work for Darren Weir and now trains a dozen horses.
One of them just won the $1 million Oaks, a victory that came five days after Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy won the Melbourne Cup.
It was a David versus Goliath moment at Flemington on Thursday before a crowd of 51,239 people.
Strictly Business is part-owned by a group of Irish expats. They beat home a horse prepared by training giant Chris Waller – The Pearls which finished second – and gave windburn to odds-on favourite Getta Good Feeling, which is owned by billionaire Jonathan Munz.
“I was found wanting late,” Getta Good Feeling’s jockey Mark Zahra said after his filly faded to finish sixth. “I think she probably didn’t stay the 2500 metres and two runs in five days on good 3s [firm tracks] probably paid a toll today.”
The winning jockey, John Allen, is another Ballarat-based Irishman who seems to have fallen out of favour with the bigger stables. He won the 2021 Cox Plate, but didn’t even have a ride in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Not that it bothered him on Thursday. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
Mates and group one winners Thomas Carberry and John Allen.Credit: Getty Images
Allen proudly pointed out that the Strictly Business silks he was wearing were in the colours of his home province, Munster – navy blue with gold crowns.
“It’s a group of Irish people [in Australia] that own her, all from my area at home [in Ireland],” Allen said.
“It’s unreal. And I have a suspension to serve after today, so we have plenty of time to celebrate.”
They were dangerous words. An Irish jockey, and Irish trainer and Irish owners. Good luck to anyone going to the Miners Rest pub near Ballarat racecourse for a pint of beer on Thursday night.
“There will be a lot of celebrating going on,” a beaming Carberry said after his maiden group 1 win.
“We were in the Miners Rest Tavern after the Wakeful [Stakes on Saturday night], but I’m not sure whether that holds us tonight, but we’ll see.”
Allen first met Carberry riding track work for Weir at Ballarat about 10 years ago. The jockey, more than anyone, knew the significance of his mate’s family name.
“I rode against his brother and sister back in Ireland,” Allen said.
John Allen smiles after winning the VRC Oaks on Strictly Business.Credit: Getty Images
“Look, he’s from a legendary racing family back at home, his father [Tommy] rode and trained a winner of the Grand National, his brother [Paul] rode a Grand National winner and is probably one of Ireland’s best riders, and his sister, as well, was a great rider.
“He’s from a family of horsemen and women and I think it has rubbed off on him as well.”
Strictly Business’ path to Oaks glory was phenomenal – the three-year-old filly won a Ballarat maiden (1400m) on October 24 at her second-ever run and first run back from a spell, finished second in the group two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Saturday before winning the 2500m group 1 on Thursday.
“I run past his [Thomas Carberry’s] house most days when I’m going for a jog, I might have to start calling in and giving Strictly Business a carrot or something like that,” Allen said.
“But look, what a training performance, he trains 10 horses, rides them all out himself, and to do what he’s done with this filly, she basically debuted 12 days ago.
“I know she had one run last prep, but to do what he’s done with the horse, unreal training performance.”
Allen said he had been through a quiet spell and was hoping the Oaks victory would kickstart momentum.
As Carberry traipsed lightly down the steps of the grandstand into the mounting yard, he looked in awe of the occasion.
“You meet people here today, and they’re legends and to think you can do it, it’s great,” he said.
“We just looked at her as a horse for the future. It takes a really good horse to do what she did, even in her maiden. She just did things that day that were not normal.
“I think I’m very, very lucky. John Allen and [Irish jockey] Declan Bates have been such a great help to me in my business. They always help me and give me good advice.
“That said, John Allen doesn’t give you advice because that’s not his thing. His thing is to ride the horse, and he just does that so well.”
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