Fallon ‘can’t believe’ his first Group One success
CIEREN Fallon claimed a landmark first Group One success aboard Oxted in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Fallon, son of former champion Kieren, was the leading apprentice last season and was making his breakthrough at the highest level aboard the Roger Teal-trained victor.
He made a bold move over two furlongs from home on the fouryear-old, and had a length and a quarter to spare over the field.
His father never won the Group One, and neither has Frankie Dettori, who chased him home on Denis Hogan’s Irish raider Sceptical.
Golden Horde, the 2-1 favourite, was back in third for Clive Cox, but it was Oxted (12-1) who wrote his and his young jockey’s name into the history books.
Fallon said: “I’m speechless. I was just a passenger on a very good horse today. Mr Teal and his team have done a very good job with him.
“I can’t believe I’m a Group Onewinning jockey as an apprentice, never mind such a young age. I owe Roger so much for keeping faith.
“The feel he gives you this year, I couldn’t tell I rode him last year, he feels a different horse
“There was a bit of pressure, but I’d spoken to my dad beforehand. Dad just told me to jump out in a straight line and kick going into the dip and then see what’s underneath me. What a horse.”
Barry Geraghty is looking forward to the next chapter in his life and career after the jockey announced his retirement from the saddle.
The 40-year-old took to Twitter late on Saturday evening to confirm his illustrious career had come to an end, having ridden a whole host of big-race winners – including the Grand National aboard Monty’s Pass in 2003 and a massive haul of 43 victories at the Cheltenham Festival.
Geraghty, pictured, feels injuries have caught up with him, and the time has come for him to call it a day.
“I’m 41 in September, and you can’t go on forever,” he said.
“I’ve missed 18 months of the last five years through injury, having broken both legs, both arms, my ribs, shoulder blade and a few other small fractures in between.
“My last injury, the leg break on the eve of the 2019 Grand National at Aintree, was a real test for me and hard to take.
“But it made me appreciate the importance of getting back into a scenario where I could go out on my own terms rather than being stretchered off.”