Allen saluted in race two – a  3200-metre maiden hurdle – as rain pelted down.

Paraggi ($5.80) won by 4.5 lengths from favourite Extra Zero ($2.50) and Western Kingdom ($3.80).

“I’d put him on anything – I’d put him on a group one race or in a jumping race,” Weir said of the Irish hoop.

“He’s a bloody great judge and a really good rider and a really hard worker at home, so he deserves everything he gets.”

Ballarat-based Weir, who has satellite stables in Warrnambool, said the wet track helped Paraggi.

“The blinkers on and wet ground, and a bit more of a positive ride, I think he’s got a bit of a future at this,” he said.

“If you had a look at his wet track form, you’d know he’s had 10 runs for two wins and three seconds and a couple of thirds.

“We thought we had him in pretty good shape but his flat form wasn’t that good.

“I just said to Johnny ‘don’t be getting too far back, too hard to make ground in these sort of conditions’.

“I thought it was a terrific ride and the rider won the race to be honest.”