Clint Allen had heard stories about the difficulty of showing in Augusta.

He also was concerned about a deep draw, 24th of 25, and he wanted to do a good job for the owners of Aristo Katz, Jack and Susan Waggoner, Bridgeport, Texas.

The fears went out the window on Jan. 31, 2004, as Allen, Weatherford, Texas, made his first trip to Augusta a big one by marking a 224.5 to win the 4-Year-Old Open class at the 25th Augusta Futurity by a half point over Miss Woody Two Shoes, ridden by Lloyd Cox.

"I just tried to go down there and do my job," he said. "It's weird coming to something like this and winning it. I feel bad for Lloyd. I always give him a hard time about being second to Tag (Rice)." Cox, the leading rider of 2003, was runner-up at all three 2003 NCHA majors and at the inaugural Western Horseman Cup, which was held during the 2004 Augusta Futurity. Three of those reserve championships were to Rice and Chiquita Pistol, the team that won the Western Horseman Cup and the 2004 Augusta Classic Open.

"You go down there and try to put together the best run you can," said Cox, who was bidding for his fourth Augusta win. "You hope it stays up there high. If it holds, it holds."

Allen wasn't concerned about Aristo Katz, a mare by 1995 Augusta Futurity Champion Smart Aristocrat and out of Katz by High Brow Cat, the 1993 Augusta Classic Champion. But he knew that the cattle had been difficult to assess deeper in the working order all week. Aristo Katz had reached the finals by marking 216-215.5 - 431.5, a point higher than the final qualifying spot.

He began his winning run with 1:33 left by cutting a big-eared white cow that spun around in frustration for 20 seconds, trying to get safely back into the herd. He then dodged disaster by holding a speedy yellow cow for 20 seconds and cut another cow with nine seconds to go to finish the run. The win was good for $31,222.

The Augusta Futurity victory was a launching pad for Aristo Katz and Allen, who earned more than $162,600 in 2004. They scored a 225 to win the Breeders Invitational, tied for third at the Brazos Bash and tied for fourth at the Memphis Futurity.

Allen, the son of a horseshoer, grew up on a farm in New Zealand where he showed pleasure and reining horses and even tried his hand at riding bulls. When a childhood friend, Julie McCloud, and her husband, cutting horse trainer Tim McCloud, honeymooned in New Zealand in February 1996, he mentioned his desire to ride horses in America. That led to a job with leading trainer Matt Gaines in Weatherford, Texas.

His first big win was in the 4-year-old Open at the 2003 Bonanza Cutting.

Allen's wife, Shayle, is widely recognized for her ability in helping prepare horses for the show arena.