Anthony Allen has warmed up for a stint in England with a clever winning ride on first starter Thumb Nail at Doomben.

The jockey timed his run perfectly on Thumb Nail ($6) who charged home to win the Become A Member Hcp (1200m) on Wednesday.

Allen was runner-up to Tegan Harrison in the Brisbane apprentices title last season.

As part of her prize, Harrison was offered the chance to ride in England but decided against it with the trip then going to Allen who will head to Ed Dunlop's Newmarket stable in a fortnight.

"I have to be in England on July 1 and will be there for a month. I will be riding trackwork and hopefully in a couple of races," Allen said.

Young Melbourne jockey Chad Schofield is also spending the Australian winter months at Dunlop's yard.

Allen has been riding trackwork for Thumb Nail's trainer Liam Birchley who has had considerable success with offspring of the gelding's sire Court Command.

A double to reigning premier jockey Tim Bell took his metropolitan tally to 50 for the season but he is still eight behind Jim Byrne and four behind Luke Tarrant who is riding on a stay of proceedings pending an appeal against a six-week improper riding ban.