Kieren Fallon's attempt to save his ride on favourite Golan in Saturday's Vodafone Derby met with defeat and disappointment today. The Jockey Club disciplinary committee threw out Fallon's appeal against the three-day ban imposed by the Ayr stewards last week, to consign the former champion to the sidelines on Flat racing's biggest day.
The committee ordered Fallon's £400 deposit to be forfeited, which indicates that the Irishman's appeal had little chance of success and he was clutching at straws. The Irish jockey had hoped to get the ban either overturned today or be considered to have committed a lesser offence worthy of a one or two-day ban, as that would have left him free to ride on any day when a Group One race was run in Britain.
Fallon said little as he brushed through waiting reporters and photographers after the 90-minute hearing at the Jockey Club's London headquarters. When a journalist asked how Fallon was feeling, the jockey, clearly upset, replied: "How do you think? Why not forget about it?"
Fallon's ban had been for irresponsible riding of a minor nature when finishing third on Distinctive Dream in the RS Design Handicap at the Scottish course last Thursday. His mount was deemed to have interfered with the unplaced Tancred Times, who was ridden by Tyrone Williams.
Fallon argued today that when a slight gap appeared his mount went left unexpectedly and of its own accord. The committee ruled that the evidence did not support this explanation. It ruled that Fallon, who had been waiting for a gap to appear, made a manoeuvre to his left when it should have been obvious to him that would have resulted in interference. Therefore it was an offence that merited the minimum ban of three days. A compassionate plea by his solicitor to treat this as a special case was turned down.
The race at Ayr was worth just over £3,000 to the winner, whereas the Derby carries a prize fund of £1million. Fallon had nothing to lose by appealing, but the fact that the committee withheld his deposit indicates that there was nothing new or there were no good grounds for the appeal being lodged.
John Maxse, the Jockey Club's public relations officer, said: "The committee withheld Fallon's deposit as they felt there were not reasonable and proper grounds for the appeal. Actually there was no new evidence brought which merited an appeal."
Fallon's ban covers the three days racing from Saturday to next Monday, and he is free to ride the favourite Flight of Fancy for Sir Michael Stoute in the Vodafone Oaks on Friday. Pat Eddery has now been confirmed as Golan's partner in the Derby, while Johnny Murtagh will ride the stable companion, Dilshaan.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
