Dalakhani triumphs as Fallon sees red
Dalakhani was sent into the lead a furlong out in the Group Two contest and with Christophe Soumillon merely keeping the winner up to his work, the colt held the challenge of Doyen by a length and a half.
Vodafone Derby hero Kris Kin had to settle for third place, a further two and a half lengths adrift, after suffering persistent interference in the middle stages of the contest.
Kris Kin’s rider, Kieren Fallon, returned to the unsaddling enclosure with a face like thunder as he recounted the details to trainer Michael Stoute.
But the stewards did not see fit to hold an inquiry into the incident, regarding it as a matter of ‘race-riding’.
Dalakhani will now return to Longchamp in three weeks’ time for what could be his final race, in the Arc.
“I always said I was aiming Dalakhani at an autumn campaign and it’s so far, so good,” said the colt’s owner-breeder, the Aga Khan. “He’s got a very, very good turn of foot.
“I hope he will come on for this race. He hasn’t raced since June and the Niel is not the Arc.
“When you bring a horse back after a break you are never confident but that was very pleasing.”
Michael Stoute was scathing about the performance of jockey Yann Lerner, whose mount Look Honey was involved in scrimmaging with his charge.
“I think Kieren was unhappy that Lerner was trying to ride our horse as well as his own,” he said. “It was disgusting what he was doing. He kept bumping our horse.”
