Fallon bullish over Gift Horse
Gift Horse has come in for strong support after it was confirmed Kieren Fallon will ride the gelding in Saturday’s William Hill Sprint Cup.
Although the Jeremy Noseda-trained Proclamation remains a short-priced favourite, Fallon believes the market leader is by no means “home and hosed”.
The David Nicholls-trained Gift Horse was last seen winning the ultra-competitive Stewards’ Cup, and the Fallon factor seems to have come into play with the five-year-old now as short as 5-1 with the sponsors and Ladbrokes.
Gift Horse will have to make the leap from handicap company to Group One level on Saturday but Fallon – who rode him at Goodwood – feels the son of Cadeaux Genereux is up to the task.
He told Racing UK: “He was always better than a handicapper and he proved that at Goodwood but Proclamation, so far, has shown a lot of ability.
“He is coming back in trip and will need luck in running so he is not home and hosed by any means.
“I think my fellow deserves to be there. Dandy improves his horses and he has done it with some good sprinters over the years and I think he can do it with this one.”
Fallon is keen on his chances of glory in the six-furlong contest but also believes Proclamation deserves his place at the head of the market.
The three-year-old won the Sussex Stakes over a mile last time to add to two earlier successes, and although he is relatively inexperienced, Fallon believes the grey should be able to handle the hurly-burly of a relatively big field.
“Proclamation is a horse that has come into his own now,” he explained. “Earlier in the year he was a little bit green and running around in his races but I think Jeremy has got him where he wants him.
“He’s a worthy favourite but you know what sprints are like, you need a lot of luck.
“Jeremy’s horse knows his job now and I have to ride my horse a bit the same, take our time and come late. Who gets the best run and who has the best horse at the finish will count.”
Proclamation will be trying six furlongs for the first time after running over distances from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter.
However, Noseda is confident the King’s Best colt will show his best and justify the £15,000 connections paid to supplement him to the race on Monday.
He told www.jeremynoseda.com: “We feel Proclamation is approaching the race in top order. He ought to handle the drop back in trip as he possesses plenty of natural speed.”
Proclamation will be coming up against a number of specialist sprinters though, including Nunthorpe Stakes winner La Cucaracha.
Barry Hills’ four-year-old was forced to miss Royal Ascot as a juvenile when suffering a series of problems while her campaign last year was curtailed after the filly suffered a stress fracture.
La Cucaracha has bounced back in style this year though, winning four of her six starts culminating in her head defeat of The Tatling in the York Group One.
Michael Hills, son of the trainer, is the filly’s regular partner and he is sure she will handle the step back up to six furlongs.
He told At The Races: “I was down (at the yard) last Saturday and she didn’t work but she looked great. She really looked very good after the race and we’re very happy with her.
“We always believed in her and I think she would have won the Queen Mary as a two-year-old, then she had an awful year as a three-year-old with problems really interrupting her training.
“This year dad’s managed to get a clean run throughout the year and she’s shown what we really believe she is capable of.
“She loves that fast ground, has got an awful lot of speed and she’s got a turn of foot – which is what you need.
“I won a handicap on her over six and a won a Group Three at Leopardstown on her over six – basically you just have to delay your run.”
Hills snr will also be represented by July Cup third Etlaala, who is due to be ridden by Michael’s twin brother Richard.
“He worked on his own on Saturday and looked tremendous. It’s hard for a three-year-old but it was a great run in the July Cup,” he added.
“Dad has had to space him out and he’s got him teed up for this race. They both need fast ground so we will find out who’s the best on Saturday.”
William Hill Sprint Cup betting:
Sponsors: 6-4 Proclamation, 4-1 Goodricke, 5-1 Gift Horse , 10-1 Etlaala, La Cucaracha, 12-1 Iffraaj, Somnus, 16-1 Galeota, 20-1 Lucky Spin, 33-1 bar.
Ladbrokes: 6-4 Proclamation, 9-2 Goodricke, 5-1 Gift Horse, 10-1 Etlaala, La Cucaracha, 12-1 Somnus, 14-1 Iffraaj, Galeota, 16-1 Lucky Spin, 25-1 bar.
Coral: 7-4 Proclamation, 5-1 Goodricke, 6-1 Gift Horse, 9-1 Somnus, La Cucaracha, 10-1 Etlaala, 12-1 Galeota, 14-1 Lucky Spin, Iffraaj, 20-1 bar.
