Michael Duffy
IT really is the worst of times for jockey Kieren Fallon. The man from Crusheen in County Clare has endured a nightmare twelve months and it got even worse at the weekend.
Fallon is currently suspended from riding in the UK and the US, leaving him to ply his trade here in Ireland and in France.
His boss Aidan O’Brien sent the talented Eagle Mountain over to Longchamp on Saturday last for the featured Grand Prix de Paris on Bastille Day in Paris, a race that Eagle Mountain could have been expected to win after fine efforts in both the Epsom and Irish Derbies.
But in what O’Brien has described as a ‘bizarre’ incident, Eagle Mountain was hampered on two fronts catapulting Fallon out of the saddle. He was immediately put in a neck brace and examined by medical staff at the course.
All in all it meant that he missed the ride on Peeping Fawn in Sunday’s Darley Stud Irish Oaks and, wouldn’t you know, the daughter of Danehill hoses in as Fallon watches the action unfold on TV. Johnny Murtagh perfectly timed his run perfectly to comprehensively turn the tables on Light Shift, and in the process ruin Westport jockey Ted Durcan’s dream of recording an Oaks double for Henry Cecil.
With honours even between the two Classic winners, bragging rights are set to go to whichever one comes out on top in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes, in which an enthralling rematch now seems ever more likely. Both Aidan O’Brien and Henry Cecil said Goodwood next month looks the likely next race for both fillies and that should be an occasion to savour.
Fallon of course will again have to watch that race from the sideline due to his ban and there can be no doubt that this ban really irks him. Fallon is convinced of his innocence in the charges relating to defrauding Betfair customers and, with Coolmore beginning his employment contract while these allegations hung over him, you’d imagine Messrs Magnier, Tabor and Smith are reasonably happy with his side of the story too.
It looks like it will be late autumn before his case will be heard in London, and it cannot come quick enough for Ireland’s most talented and controversial jockey.
The next big race that Fallon will miss is the King George at Ascot - O’Brien has ante-post fancies Dylan Thomas and Soldier of Fortune lined up to take on Authorized and that’s a race we’ll be taking a close look at in next week’s column, along with the first few days of the annual pilgrimage to Ballybrit.
Markets have been formed for both the Galway Hurdle and Galway Plate races. Three horses head the market for the hurdle on Wednesday. I have highlighted Farmer Brown below as having a great chance and he leads the market at 10-1 along with Tony Martin’s Hegrid and Dermot Weld’s Zeroberto.
Another horse who I have followed since his maiden victory at Ballinrobe last year is Serve Time and he could also have a big shout off a decent mark.
Ansar is once again one of the favourites for the Plate, going for an unprecedented three wins in four years. He’s at 10-1 along with Cool Runnings from the Christy Roche yard. Others to consider at the moment are Pacolet and English challengers Yes Sir and Hoo La Baloo.
And don’t forget the big two day festival at Ballinrobe next weekend. Large crowds are expected on both days and Tuesday is Ladies Day with a €2,000 holiday voucher for the best dressed lady, judged by RTE’s Sile Seoighe. Hope to see you all there and fingers crossed that the rain stays away - for once.
