Luck of the Irish? Jockey John Allen chases fifth South Australian Derby with Statuario

John Allen admits Adelaide has “certainly been a happy hunting ground” as he strives to win the South Australian Derby for the fifth time on Saturday.

A modest John Allen believes he’s simply been “lucky” in Adelaide, the scene of seven of his 20 Group 1 victories in the saddle.

Allen scored a first Group 1 win in the 2016 South Australian Derby aboard Howard Be Thy Name, and nine years later, the Irish hoop is poised for a remarkable fifth Derby win aboard favourite Statuario in Saturday’s $1m three-year-old feature.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

It’s no surprise Allen, who is based in Victoria, enjoys returning to Morphettville.

He’s striking at 33.3 per cent in Group 1 races in Adelaide, with seven wins from 21 rides.

He won the Robert Sangster Stakes and Australasian Oaks in 2023, along with The Goodwood in 2020, handing him SA’s quartet of Group 1s.

“I’ve been lucky down there, I’ve got on some good horses,” Allen, who won the 2021 Derby aboard Explosive Jack, said.

“I really enjoy riding on the main track at Morphettville, I’ve had a lot of luck around it, maybe it’s just the way I ride a bit – it’s certainly been a happy hunting ground for me.

“It’s hard to believe it’s nine years ago now (first Group 1), I’ve had plenty of luck in Adelaide every time, you have to get on the right horses but it’s been a lucky place for me.”

John Allen celebrates winning the 2020 South Australian Derby with Russian Camelot. Picture: Brenton Edwards

• Gluyas' Guru to push on to Derby

Allen is better equipped than most when it comes to profiling a Derby horse, and Statuario, a son of D’argento, has given the indication that he fits the Derby mould.

“He seems to be taking the right steps, it’s a different formline to the Chairman’s (Stakes), it will be interesting to see how they measure up,” he said.

“I suppose he’s probably the in-form horse going into the race so hopefully he can produce on Saturday.”

Statuario was an impressive winner of the Galilee Series Final (2400m) last start at Caulfield, the two-length win suggested that he will handle Saturday’s 2500m Derby journey.

“We had a bit of a concern about him running the 2400m, obviously the Derby will be a high pressure race, hopefully he can handle that,” he said.

“He was impressive (last start), it probably didn’t look the strongest of races, but the form out of it hasn’t actually been too bad.

“He had the right run, but he still won it pretty dominantly, I think it’s a good lead-up hopefully.”

Statuario, expressed in betting, dominates the Galilee Series Final, which was a slowly run affair 💰

The @Em_spartaracing training duo are airborne 🔥@JohnnyA_24pic.twitter.com/17ECkGO28s

— Racing.com (@Racing) April 5, 2025

• Godolphin moves to public training model, Cummings to start anew

Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne are chasing their first Group 1 win in Australia since relocating from New Zealand in 2022, and Allen would love to be the jockey to deliver it with Statuario.

“They made the move over here to Australia so I suppose it’s a big race for them to be on the big stage and show what they are about,” Allen said.

“Their horse is in great form at the moment, I’ve only really started riding for them in the last few months, they’ll have the horse in tip top shape come Saturday.”

Statuario has drawn barrier three, and is a $4.20 favourite with Sportsbet.

Originally published as Luck of the Irish? Jockey John Allen chases fifth South Australian Derby with Statuario