Ben Allen combines successfully with Native Soldier last month.Credit:AAP
Less than a month ago teenage jockey Ben Allen was sitting on sidelines recovering from glandular fever, hoping against hope that he wouldn't miss out on the chance for spring carnival glory.
How the wheel of fortune has turned for the 19-year-old, one of Victoria's leading apprentices in the past two seasons.
Now "100 per cent over" the illness, he returned to riding a few weeks ago and is looking to really make a name for himself in the upcoming big races.
On Saturday Allen will have rides in three group 1 races at Caulfield, including the feature Caulfield Guineas aboard Darren Weir's strongly fancied three-year-old Native Soldier.
No wonder that he regards Saturday's meeting as a red-letter day in his short career.
As well as snaring the mount on Native Soldier, on whom he won last time out at Caulfield in the Guineas Prelude, Allen will team up with Weir's Caulfield Cup fancy Night's Watch in the Caulfield Stakes and the Weir-trained filly Anjana in the Thousand Guineas.
Native Soldier has Sydney-trained The Autumn Sun to beat in the Guineas while the Kris Lees runner Smart Melody is all the rage in the fillies equivalent.
''I think it's definitely the biggest day of my career. The most I have ever had on the one day was just the one group 1 ride so I am looking forward to having three quality group 1 rides on Saturday,'' Allen said.
Native Soldier generally makes the running so drawing barrier four was just what Allen would have liked.
"I was happy with his barrier. As long as he jumps well he can get out quite comfortably and get a soft lead hopefully.
"I would say that the plan would be to lead if we can get there without doing too much work but if others want to go hard we can take a sit. Hopefully with The Autumn Sun's racing pattern we can get a break on him."
"I rode him first start and Weiry was happy with the way I rode him, then I got sick and that's when Dean Yendall ended up riding him. After he got beaten down the straight and he pulled up lame I was lucky enough to get back on him the next start. I don't know how it worked out, but I was just fortunate enough to get back on him and win on him.
"It's bit of a shame about the barrier draw for Anjana [gate 13] but in a big field, hopefully I can get her into a good spot.
"As long as there's a bit of give in the track that will suit her a bit better. She seems to get through the soft tracks better than the firm."
Allen is one of several jockeys who rides for the Weir stable but he knows that he has to wait his turn and accept what the champion handler asks him to ride.
"You just have to leave it up to 'Weiry'. Damian Lane is the No. 1 rider, whatever horses he rides he gets to keep. But Weiry always throws all of us a good ride each."
Allen lives in Pakenham, so it requires plenty of commitment to get all the way to Ballarat and beyond to ride in trials for the Weir stable, but he accepts that is part of the job – and that it brings its own rewards.
"You have to do a lot of travelling but it's definitely made worth it when you get rides like this in these big races.
"You have to go to Warrnambool mainly, around that area, Terang and those kind of tracks which are quite far out."
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