Ben Allen rides two winners in NZ

Victorian Ben Allen has starred in a jockeys’ series in New Zealand but iit was not quite enough to pull his team to victory.

Allen won two races at the Ellerslie twilight meeting on Wednesday to help the apprentices’ team to second behind the International side featuring Sydney-based New Zealander Jason Collett, Damian Lane and Jamie Kah.

The New Zealand side was third ahead with the women’s team fourth.

Allen is now riding without a claim in what has been a break-out season for the 18-year-old.

Among the highlights so far was a late call-up to ride Thomas Hobson in the Melbourne Cup replacing an injured Joao Moreira.