Group 1 jockey John Allen happy to sacrifice calories to ride Duke De Sessa in the Caulfield Cup
Group 1 jockey John Allen has sacrificed calories in his Caulfield Cup quest with Duke De Sessa — and he’s confident it is worth it.
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Group 1 jockey John Allen has no issue sacrificing calories this week in a quest to win the Caulfield Cup aboard Duke De Sessa.
Allen must drop to 53kg – 2kg less than normal and 1kg below the comfort zone – to partner the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper in the $5m spring major on Saturday.
The last kilogram is likely to be lost on Saturday morning with “a lot of sweating” to be done.
Duke De Sessa was Allen’s radar the past couple of weeks, which made the 2kg cut easier.
“It’s going to be a bit of work, not too bad, I’m on track,” Allen said.
“I always try to ride lighter this time of year, so trying to keep on top of my weight, always hoping to get on something with a bit more weight but opportunities are fairly scarce.
“I normally ride 55kg at this time of year, 54kg in the good races, 53kg is a bit more work but you’re not going to win any big races sitting in the jockeys’ room are you?”
Six of the 18 starters in the Caulfield Cup have a handicap of 54kg or above.
Allen has ridden under 55kg only once this year, in April, when he piloted My Oberon at 54kg to run second in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.
The 19-time Group 1 winner rode Explosive Jack at 54kg in the 2021 Caulfield Cup.
“I’ve done it (53kg) once or twice before,” Allen, a winner of more than 1100 races, said.
“I’m gradually working down to it, I’m keeping pretty hydrated at the moment and watching what I’m eating, I’ll probably do a lot of sweating the last couple of days.”
Duke De Sessa is third-up going into the Caulfield Cup after runs in the Group 1 Memsie and Turnbull stakes.
The Listed and Group 3 winner in Ireland at 2377m-2414m will appreciate a rise in distance on Saturday but firm ground could blunt his output.
Duke De Sessa has eased $26 to $34 with TAB.
The four-year-old galloped nicely at Caulfield last Tuesday with a last 600m sectional in 37.63sec – stablemate and Caulfield Cup favourite Gold Trip clocked 36.95sec.
“He galloped very well, I was very happy with how he went,” Allen said.
“He’s probably been a run behind a little bit this preparation, but hopefully the run last start will top him off for Saturday.”
Duke De Sessa finished seventh in the Turnbull Stakes, beaten 4.85 lengths.
Originally published as Group 1 jockey John Allen happy to sacrifice calories to ride Duke De Sessa in the Caulfield Cup
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