Fallon looking for power-packed performance

Kieren Fallon is out to make an immediate impact on the international racing scene in his new job as stable jockey to the all-powerful Ballydoyle empire when he takes over the reins aboard Powerscourt in tomorrow’s Dubai Sheema Classic.

The $2m (€1.5m) contest, run over a mile and a half on turf, is sure to attract plenty of interest from armchair British punters as it features several interesting European raiders.

Powerscourt plied his trade all around the world last year, most notably when first past the post in the Arlington Million only to be disqualified from first place after jockey Jamie Spencer was ruled to have caused interference in making his challenge.

And plenty of his other efforts, including a comfortable win first time out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, would put Powerscourt right in the picture as the O’Brien team charts new territory with a first run in the Emirates.

Fallon has been out in Dubai all week, familiarising himself with the horse and the track conditions and the rider, who has won the race twice, is full of confidence.

“He is feeling great, and he is really taking everything in,” he said earlier this week. “He is going to be at the top of his form come Saturday and is really looking good.”

One of those keenest to overturn Fallon’s mount is sure to be his former boss Sir Michael Stoute, left in the lurch earlier this month when the rider announced his decision to switch.

Stoute saddles Maraahel, fourth in the St Leger on his final start last season, but aimed at this race for some time and expected to give a bold showing on his first start of the year according to Stoute.

“I think it’s a very tough race but he is a progressive horse who is very consistent and I think he’ll run a big race,” said the trainer.

“He ran a big race in the Leger but he emptied coming towards the furlong-pole. We weren’t sure about the trip for him that day and it just found him out but it was still a very good run.”

Also representing Britain in the field will be the Andrew Balding-trained Phoenix Reach and Alan Swinbank’s outsider Collier Hill.

Favourite for the $2m (€1.5m) Sheema Classic is Godolphin’s Cherry Mix, second in the Arc de Triomphe last season but a flop on dirt when making his debut for new connections.

Jockey Frankie Dettori has nominated the four-year-old as his best chance of the meeting, but he is a horse who has something to prove at present.

And Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford has admitted that he already has one eye looking beyond this weekend.

He said: “After we have seen him run, we will make a plan for the rest of the season. He could go for the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

“He really needed the run first time out – we ran him over a mile and a quarter because it would have been a bit much to run him over a mile and a half then.

“We knew he wasn’t really a dirt horse – we just wanted to get a run under his belt. He has improved for the race. Last year it took him a few races to get going and this year might be no different.

“While we are expecting a much better display this time, it may take a little while to get to the level of performance that we saw at the backend of last season.

“We are excited about him as he is a big international horse. It is a long year and we will be spacing his races out because our year ends in Hong Kong in December. This is the start of what could be a very fruitful campaign.”