High Court to decide if Fallon rides in the Derby
Mr Justice MacDuff, sitting in London, has been urged to grant an injunction by the owners of 2000 Guineas third Native Khan, which would prevent Fallon taking part in the premier Classic.
They claim that three-time Derby winner Fallon has broken a “promise” to ride their horse and should be prevented from riding another in the race.
Fallon, who attended the court for yesterday’s hearing, denied breach of contract and said there has been an “innocent misunderstanding”.
Lawyers for owner Ibrahim Araci argued that he had been “badly let down” by Fallon, who is set to partner Aidan O’Brien’s Recital, whom he rode to win the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.
Fallon guided the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan to victory in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his first start of the year.
Olivier Peslier rode the grey when he finished third in the Guineas behind Frankel as Fallon was suspended.
The judge will give his ruling this morning.
Meanwhile O’Brien believes Recital has a touch of brilliance that could enable him to land the trainer a third Derby although he is having to take the colt’s ability to stay the trip on trust. O’Brien, who also runs Seville, Memphis Tennessee and Treasure Beach, saddled Galileo and High Chaparral to win the Epsom Classic in 2001 and 2002 but has failed to train a winner since.
Recital heads to the Derby, for which he is a general 5-1 third favourite, following victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, the same race won by O’Brien’s previous Derby winners, and the trainer is confident about the colt’s ability even if he is unsure about the 1m4f trip.
“Recital we always thought was brilliant and had that kick of brilliance in him that would definitely get him a mile and a quarter and we have to take the rest on trust,” he said on Thursday.
“He’s a very brilliant horse with an instant turn of toe. Kieren was very good on him [at Leopardstown] and it was important that Kieren rode him. He has plenty of class and usually a horse with plenty of class that travels like he travels usually won’t have any problems [around Epsom].”
O’Brien is more confident about his other three contenders staying the Derby trip and expects an improved performance from Seville after his second to Derby favourite Carlton House in the Totesport Dante last month.
O’Brien added: “We were very happy with the run, it was a slowly run race and didn’t suit anyone really. We sent the horse to York knowing he would improve and most of them have been doing that through the year. We’re hoping that trend continues. He is a very solid horse you’d imagine would have no problem getting a mile and half. That’s what we’ve always said about him.”
