Allan Beck has fine record in Southern Oaks

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Allan Beck reflects on his winning drives in the Southern Oaks over the years. He shares the record with Ricky May and Dexter Dunn, each having driven four winners in the Oaks.

In 1984 and in his first season as a driver, Beck drove Josephine Bret (Knowing Bret) to win for his father Bob.

“She got a flat tyre with a round to go and pulled it for the last lap. It was a pretty courageous performance. She was quite a big filly but she definitely had what it required. She had a good cruising speed,” Beck said.

The $1.25 favourite beat Timepiece by half a length and ran the 2400 metre in 3-04.7.

Allan Beck and Josephine Bret at Gore 

Allan’s second win came five years later at Gore in 1989 when he drove Adrenalin, (Surmo Hanover) trained by his good friend George Smith.

“She was a horse that never backed up that well. She had a low heart count. We worked her up at Winton and I said to George that we’d just go into the Oaks fresh. She was six weeks between runs. She got held up in the straight, got out late and dashed home.”

Adrenalin beat Celebration by half a length running the 2200 metre mobile in 2-51.8.

Ray Faithful provided Beck with his third win, on Tartan Lady (Holmes Hanover) in1998.

“She was in devasting form as a three year old (won seven of eleven). She was a Holmes Hanover and she could do a bit of work, so you could make your own luck.”

Tartan Lady who was favourite and paying $1.70 beat Shout The Girls by half a head.

Tartan Lady and her connections 

Beck’s fourth win in the Oaks came with Shortys Girl (New York Motoring) in 2001 at Ascot Park Invercargill.

“She worked off the gate and ended up parked then three back on the outside. I made a move with her down the back straight three wide. She sat three wide for the last 600 metres and just got up to beat Sparks A Flyin.”