Banned Fallon to miss Derby; Rider will review tape of race before deciding whether to appeal as names are put forward for Epsom replacement.
Byline: Graham CunninghamKIEREN FALLON's dilemma over whether to ride Golan or Dilshaan in next week's Vodafone Derby became academic yesterday when the Ayr stewards handed him a ban that rules him out of the pounds 1 million Classic.
Last night, a number of leading jockeys were in the frame to pick up the rides on Stoute's big-race duo, including Johnny Murtagh, Pat
Eddery and Frankie Dettori.
Amid the wreckage of Fallon's intentions, Derby favouritism could yet fall to Irish raider Galileo, who was cut to as short as 5-2 (from 3) by Victor Chandler yesterday after working at Ballydoyle on Wednesday.
The same firm eased Sagitta 2,000 Guineas winner Golan out to the same price, as did Coral Eurobet, while last month's Dante winner
Dilshaan was shaved in price by both firms.
Fallon, who announced on Wednesday that he was content to let Stoute decide on his big-race mount a week tomorrow, made what could prove the most costly
decision of his turbulent career as a packed field charged towards the winning post in the RS Design Handicap over five furlongs.
Riding the well-backed Distinctive Dream for Alan Bailey, Fallon was clearly travelling strongly off the pace in the 19-runner contest with a furlong to race, only to be persistently denied a run as the field bunched up ahead of him.
Fallon switched his mount left and got a strong run out of the gelding to finish third to Leaping Charlie and Maromito, but in doing so bumped Tancred Times and incurred a ban for irresponsible riding of a minor nature.
The ban, which runs from June 9-11, begins a day after
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nFrom front page
Fallon rides the well-fancied Flight Of Fancy for the Queen in the Vodafone Oaks, but the thought of missing out on riding Golan or Dilshaan on the biggest day in British racing had the former champion pale- faced and grimacing as he waited outside the stewards' room.
"It doesn't look good," was his
response when asked about his chances, and his worst fears were confirmed with news that the rules for irresponsible riding make no
allowance for deferring a suspension which includes days on which Group or Grade 1 races are due to take place.
Fallon left the racecourse after the fourth race anxious to review the video of the race before deciding whether to appeal.
"I came there travelling strongly when my horse just dived to the left," he said, "but it seems the stewards didn't see that and I'll have to speak to my agent, David Pollington, before I decide whether there'll be an appeal."
Ironically, Fallon almost missed the ride on Distinctive Dream, having caught his flight from Stan-
sted to Prestwick "with only a minute to spare".
Nicky Vigors, the stewards' secretary advising the Ayr panel, said: "The stewards decided that the
interference was caused by Mr Fallon against Mr Williams, and then they had to decide which category it fell into.
"They decided that Kieren tried to widen a gap which never looked big enough to go through, and although three days is the minimum punishment for irresponsible riding of a minor nature, suspensions can only be deferred when the ban for the offence in question is of two days or less."
Vigors stressed that any subsequent hearing would be held before Derby Day and that, if the ban is upheld, the dates will stand.
"It was bound to be a hot potato," he added, "but the stewards went through the process without any knowledge that there was a Derby ride at stake and, to be honest, if you follow the guidelines as they stand, this was a pretty straightforward decision."
Fallon will miss a second Classic ride, as Mathieu Boutin wanted the Irishman to partner Snataka in the Prix de Diane-Hermes on Sunday week.
Yesterday was the last day on which bans took in Derby Day, and Fallon was just three rides from safety.
Last night, Golan's owner Lord Weinstock said: "Maybe Kieren will succeed in any appeal. He's obviously an important asset, but these things happen."
Stoute was unavailable for comment last night, but was understood to be besieged by jockeys' agents.
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| Title Annotation: | Sports |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Racing Post (London, England) |
| Date: | Jun 1, 2001 |
| Words: | 699 |
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