3 minute read

John Allen guided the favourite Muntaseera to victory in the 4cyte For Living Legends 3yo Hcp at Caulfield.

Jockeys riding in the 4Cyte For Living Legends Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Pat Smullen. 

In a fitting result, Irish jockey John Allen guided the $3.50 favourite Muntaseera to victory in the 1000m scamper for three-year-olds. 

A former leading rider in Ireland, Smullen lost his battle with pancreatic cancer during the week. 

While Allen did not ride against Smullen often before moving to Australia, Smullen's wife Frances Crowley provided the jockey with his first winner. 

"I did share a weighing room with him for a very long time and by all accounts he was a fierce competitor and a very humble man off the track," Allen said. 

"Condolences to his family. His wife, Frances, his three kids, Paddy, Hanna and Sarah, the whole racing community has lost a man that will leave a big hole in Irish racing, but also worldwide." 

Muntaseera, who notched her second win on Saturday, brought up a winning double for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable after Wise Counsel scored in the Lonboard For Mirabel Handicap (1600m). 

Eustace said the $400,000 Group Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 14 shaped as an ideal race for Muntaseera with the potential to press on the $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31. 

"We can obviously step her up now and we really thought that the Blue Sapphire would be a lovely race for her and if she wins that then you can look towards a race like the Coolmore," Eustace said. 

"It's great to get a win for her." 

Eustace said Wise Counsel, who broke his maiden status with Saturday's win, will be given the opportunity of showing he is up to running in the $2 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 31. 

"We think he'll relish Flemington," Eustace said. 

"He's obviously a winner here as well and you've got the Caulfield Classic, so we'll put him on that path now and see how he comes through." craig