New training gig adds up for Allendorf as ex-Macau horseman sets up base at Wyong

Former jockey and trainer Geoff Allendorf was cross-crossing his way around Australia, visiting friends and family as he contemplated what to do with his life after his career in Macau was brought to an abrupt end.

The Australian had no intention of leaving the Asian gambling capital, happy to ply his trade as a trainer at Taipa racecourse, just as he had as a jockey, for at least another decade.

That was until the government in early 2024 announced it was stripping the Macau Jockey Club of its licence due to spiralling debts, accrued over the years through mismanagement.

In the space of 11 weeks, racing in Macau was over and participants, locals and expats alike, were forced to consider what was next.

Allendorf, now 68, was one of them.

After months of tending to the horses in Macau as they were slowly shipped to other countries to continue their racing careers or into retirement, Allendorf made his own quiet journey home, starting in Perth, to Adelaide, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Cairns.

He also filled his time by assisting Equine International Airfreight in transporting horses from Australia to countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines.

Last week, he was back “on the tools” for the first time in close to two years as a trainer based at Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in a stable he shares with Kim Waugh. 

He has four horses in work and another four in pre-training.

Allendorf’s unexpected comeback is as trainer of YP Cheng’s new racing venture Mathland, which has spent $2.5 million on 18 yearlings at Magic Millions and Inglis yearling sales in the past 13 months. 

They include progeny of The Autumn Sun, Farnan, Trapeze Artist and Palace Pier. 

“Out of left field, I was on my way to the Caulfield Cup just to socialise with people. Kenny Man, who’s worked for the boss ever since day one. He trained for him in Macau, then trained Northern Drake out here,” Allendorf told The Straight.

“He rang me and he just said, ‘is there any interest in you training for the boss?’ And I didn’t even know about Mathland at the time.

“He said he just brought nine horses before, all in Mathland’s name. And he said you’d start with them, and now he’s just been back to the sales and he’s bought some more.

‘I thought, ‘well, I might just fly with the horse planes’ and do that, but then Kenny came up with this idea. 

“The only way I’d train in Australia – somebody like me who’s got no history here;  I rode here a 100 years ago – was if I’ve got somebody that’ll go to the sales and buy $200,000 and $300,000 yearlings for you, so I thought I’d give it a crack.”

Allendorf’s backer Cheng, who made his fortune manufacturing the McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, is best-known for the Domeland racing operation, which is now overseen by his son King and trainer Nacim Dilmi.

Mathland (and Domeland) are expected to be at the Inglis Classic to add to the depth of the respective stables.

During his long training career in Macau, Allendorf prepared 301 winners, including a double at the Jockey Club’s final meeting, and despite the change of environment at Wyong, he won’t be altering his philosophy too much.

“Like my old boss back in the old days, he used to say, ‘try to keep it simple’ and when you see guys such as John Size – I wouldn’t dare compare myself with them – and they keep it pretty simple,” Allendorf said. 

“I know there’s more things that you can do these days with treadmills and water walkers and all that, but basically you have just got to keep them fit and happy.” 

With two-year-olds in the stable, Allendorf is not expecting to have a runner at least until May, but he’s enjoying being back in the day-to-day fold of training.

“I’ve got Peter (Losh, ex-jockey) here on the Central Coast. He’s lived here all his life, and I’ve got Kimmy Waugh and Tracey Bartley in the training ranks who I’ve known since the Rosehill days,” he said.

“I’ve got a 35, 40-year history with them.”

The early education of the Mathland-owned horses started last year with Hawkesbury-based trainer Tommy Wong before transferring to Allendorf.