Fallon may miss Leger due to ban

Graham Cunningham13 April 2012

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon heads to Yorkshire for the start of the Ebor meeting today, looking forward to a clutch of top rides but worried that he could miss part or all of the Rothmans Royals St Leger Festival at Doncaster next month.

Fallon, currently homing in on his fifth jockeys' title, has fallen foul of the stewards on several occasions of late and triggered a referral under the Jockey Club's totting-up procedure after being found guilty of irresponsible riding aboard Golden Nun at Newmarket on Saturday.

A swift hearing would have enabled Fallon to serve his ban and return in ample time for the Leger on 14 September. However, Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse confirmed last night that the matter is unlikely to be resolved before next week.

"Kieren's previous championship seasons have been notable for a lack of suspensions, but if this latest offence is confirmed he faces a lengthy ban," he said.

"We're liasing with Kieren as to when his hearing will take place, but it doesn't look as though it will be possible to fix a date this week and in that case the Leger meeting would have to be doubtful for him."

Fallon currently lies eleven winners ahead of Richard Hughes in the title race but could find his lead eroded considerably if, as seems likely, he receives a ban of 12 days or more.

Shorter term, the Irishman will be relishing the chance to renew his relationship with the runaway Nassau Stakes heroine, Islington, who shares top billing in one of the clashes of the week when she takes on the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner Kazzia in tomorrow's Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks. A field of 11 stood their ground at yesterday's 48-hour declaration stage, but Fallon feels that Sir Michael Stoute's filly has a lot in her favour.

"She disappointed behind Kazzia in the Oaks, but she came back very sore and we knew that wasn't her race," he said.

"We knew how good she was from the way she worked at home before she ran at Goodwood, and she's a genuine Group 1 filly with a great temperament."

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