Kieren Fallon provided the perfect response to his critics by winning the Convergent Communications Dante Stakes on Dilshaan at York today. A day after he was slated by The Queen's racing manager Lord Carnarvon for riding an awful race on Flight Of Fancy in the Musidora Stakes, the former champion jockey was seen at his best in the colts' equivalent. But victory in the major trial for the Vodafone Derby leaves him with the dilemma of whether to desert 2000 Guineas winner and hot favourite Golan at Epsom in favour of a progressive colt now quoted as short as 7-1.
There was no danger of Fallon being accused of lying too far out of his ground this time on Dilshaan, and he was always tracking Frankie Dettori on Godolphin's front-running Celtic Silence. After challenging early in the straight, he established a definite lead two furlongs out and used all his strength to repel Dettori's fight back by half a length. There was another neck back to Storming Home in third place, with Aldwych and John Dunlop's pair Olden Times and Rosi's Boy well beaten off in a Group Two contest taken by recent Derby winners Benny The Dip and Erhaab.
Speaking afterwards, Fallon revealed: "I thought we'd come away but he idled in front, it was only his third race, and when Frankie came back at him he picked up well. The Irishman had not been fazed by Press coverage of the Musidora controversy and said: "I thought it was very amusing and I had a good laugh. One person was very critical but he is entitled to his opinion like anyone else. I think Flight Of Fancy will be well suited by an extra two furlongs at Epsom, she will come on for the run and hopefully she will win the Oaks."
Things are less straightforward in the Derby for Fallon, who is unable to split the Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair Golan and Dilshaan. He added: "I don't want to talk about the Derby as anything could go wrong, but if they both get there they are the two horses everyone has to beat. But I couldn't separate them yet. They are both Group One winners, they will both handle Epsom. They both act on soft and both feel even better on top-of-the-ground. It is a lucky position to be in but I hope I pick the right one!
This was Dilshaan's first race since winning the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October. (PA)
Filed by Shane Murray
