FALLON GOES ONE BETTER THAN FATHER
CIEREN FALLON captured a prize that eluded his father Kieren, as Oxted sprinted to victory yesterday in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
The 12-1 winner, Fallon jnr’s first at the highest level at just his second attempt, was also a first Group 1 in the goingplaces training career of Roger Teal.
The jockey, who rode Oxted to land the Doncaster Portland Handicap last September, kept the mount to last month win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course.
And they enjoyed another landmark as the gelded son of 2012 July Cup hero Mayson beat Sceptical by a length and a quarter, with 2-1 nap Golden Horde third.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to ride in a Group 1,” admitted last season’s champion apprentice (below), based with Newmarket trainer William Haggas.
“For Mr Teal and the owners to keep me on this horse means a lot to me.” The father and son, 21, share a flat in Newmarket, and yesterday’s winning rider laughed: “Tonight will be interesting!
“I’ve got one up on him now! I will definitely wind him up, but he’s very proud and he’s helped me a lot.
“He was going to move to America, but he stuck around to look after me. I can’t thank him enough.”
The six-furlong test was one of the few big races to evade Fallon snr, six-time champion jockey and 16-time Classic winner, whose best placing was second aboard Society Rock in 2013.
“I finished second in it!” he joked. “He’s got it – I know he’s got it. He’s got so much confidence – I wish I had half his confidence when I was riding.
“William has done so much with him behind the scenes. He has sent him to Australia and he has sent him to America – he’s doing everything to get him where needs to be at.”
Teal, who relocated to Lambourn’s Windsor House Stable last December, added: “This has been the dream since the Portland and it’s come true.
“We had this race in mind straight after that – this is what we targeted all year.
“We banked on him and the kid came good!”
Master Of The Seas stepped up to Group 2 company to land the bet365 Superlative Stakes and, with it, earn a quote of 10-1 favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.