Fallon going all out for 200 winners on turf
Kieren Fallon, enjoying a memorable season, is determined to reach 200 winners on turf after notching up the double century for the year as a whole.
The champion achieved the landmark for a fourth time when scoring on the Paul Cole-trained Akritas in the Bet attheraces 0800 083 83 33 Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.
Akritas, a 52,000 guineas yearling, took up the running entering the Dip in the mile test and he stretched out well up the hill to pass the post one-and-a-half lengths clear of First Note with Flamjica three lengths away in third.
The bay colt holds an entry in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and Cole’s assistant Liam Kelly said: “He did it will, Kieren gave him a lovely ride, he kept hold of him and taught him a bit – and he said he feels like a nice horse.”
Fallon’s total includes 11 winners on the all-weather before the turf season started, which do not count as far as the jockeys’ championship is concerned and he is now poised to top his personal best score of 204 achieved in 1998, having reached 202 the previous year and 201 in 1999.
He has won the title on five occasions in the past six years, missing out only in 2000 when his season was cut short after he sustained a very serious career-threatening shoulder injury in a fall at Royal Ascot.
With a sixth championship already in safe keeping, he said: “It is nice to get 200 again, it was the target at the start of the year, but I have been a bit lazy recently and dropped my guard.
“Hopefully I can get 200 on the grass now, I need another 11 before the turf season ends at Doncaster on November 8.”
Fallon’s victories this term include Classic successes on Russian Rhythm in the 1000 Guineas and Kris Kin in the Vodafone Derby.
John Gosden sent out the winner of the alanbrazilracing.com EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes for the second year running, this time Proud Tradition doing the honours in the hands of Richard Hughes.
Frankie Dettori, who rode the one and a quarter length runner-up Strawberry Fair was suspended for one day for using his whip with excessive frequency and he will miss Cambridgeshire day back at Newmarket on October 4
In normal circumstances the ban would start on October 2, but as there is Group One race on that day, and the following day it is therefore deferred.
Hughes went on to complete a 184-1 plus treble on the Richard Hannon pair I Won’t Dance, who just touched off Rydal in a driving finish to the second division of the Daily Concessions On Bet attheraces Median Maiden Auction Stakes, and Moonlight Man who defied top weight and survived a stewards’ inquiry after passing the post first in the Bet attheraces 0800 083 83 83 Nursery.
