Motherhood and training fit like a glove for Allender

By Glenn Davis

Bringing up a young boy while rising early to train horses is no easy lift.

But, that’s what Innisfail trainer Krystin Allender has done for the past five years.

Allender has always wanted to train since she began to learn off some of the best in the business when based in Victoria.

The recently turned 33-year-old is a mother to five-year-old son Bailey and works part-time as a teacher’s aide at Innisfail State School in the state’s Far North while training a team of four horses.

Allender first moved to Innisfail eight years ago to take up a job opportunity as a track rider.

“As soon as I left school in Victoria I went to work as a stablehand for John Sadler and Troy Corstens,” Allender said.

“I learnt off a lot of trainers down there before I got the job as a track rider in Innisfail, then I applied to get my trainer’s licence.

“It was a lot easier getting my trainers’ licence in Queensland as it was extremely hard to get one in Victoria.”

Allender’s job as a mother hasn’t stopped her rising early each morning to train.

“Home is only four minutes from the stable and I’ve got a bedroom set-up at the stable for Bailey,” Allender said.

“Bailey is a sound sleeper so each morning I just transfer him to his stable bed.

“He’s done it his whole life and it’s become a routine for us.”

Allender heads to Cairns on Tuesday looking for her second quinella of her career in the Class 2 Handicap over 1250 metres.

She trained her first quinella in Townsville last month when Mister Doobee and Grovers Prediction ran the one-two in a Ratings Band 0 - 55 Handicap over 1000 metres.

“It was nice to get my first ever quinella so hopefully I can get my second in Cairns,” she said.

Allender will again rely on Grovers Prediction who will be joined in her Cairns assignment by stablemate The Prophecy.

Grovers Prediction followed up her Townsville placing with a disappointing last of 11 at Cairns on November 16.

“Grovers Prediction always tries hard but last start she over-raced which is not like her,” Allender said.

“She should go a lot better this time as it doesn’t look a particularly strong race.

“The Prophecy is having her first start for me since coming from Morgan Butler at Caloundra.

“I’m really impressed with her as she’s been working well and is eating everything in sight.”

The Prophecy has started 10 times and won a Sunshine Coast maiden in March but hasn’t started since tailing a field of 11 at the Sunshine Coast on October 3.