By Lisa O’Donnell
Kilworth jockey Johnny Allen, will once again be part of the Irish National Hunt Jockeys’ team taking on Australia in this year’s Jockey’s Challenge in Australia.
The 2016 line-up, which was announced by President Michael D Higgins at last week’s Galway Races, will see the Kilworth native joined by some of Ireland’s horse racing greats such as Katie Walsh, Luke Dempsey and Ian McCarthy.
Allen, who rode his last winner in Ireland at Listowel in 2010, has since carved out a successful career for himself in Australia and was a member of last year’s Irish team.
His biggest Irish winner came in January, 2004, when he won the then €130,000 Pierse Hurdle on the Charles Byrnes-trained Dromlease Express at Leopardstown.
(Healy Racing)
This is the 30th year in a row that an Irish team has been invited to Australia to participate in the jockey challenge.
Ireland has an impressive record in the tournament, winning on 24 occasions, with Australia taking home the honours 15 times, and a draw resulting once.
Team Australia have won the challenge for the last two years, but manager of the Irish team, Sean Lynch, is keen to see the Irish team return to its winning ways, saying that this year’s team is very strong.
“It’s a great experience for the jockeys who travel over and we receive the very best of Australian hospitality every year,” Sean said.
