Steward 'could not understand how Fallon lost race'

Australia's top racing steward told the Old Bailey court in London today that he could not understand why six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon lost a race which he had been winning.

Ray Murrihy said he had viewed film of the controversial race in which Ballinger Ridge was beaten at Lingfield on March 12, 2004 having held a huge lead.

He said there was no reason why Fallon, who had a "commanding lead" with only a furlong to go, had slowed down and "given an easy passage" to the horse which overtook him.

Murrihy added: "I am in no doubt he should have won. It was a quite extraordinary ride."

The horse slowed "dramatically" and lost momentum after Fallon appeared to drop his hands.

Murrihy said: "I do not think I have seen in my experience a horse ease down in that part of the race and it undoubtedly cost him the win."

Murrihy, the chief steward of Australia, has been called as a prosecution witness in the £2m (€2.86m) race-fixing trial.

Fallon, the court has heard, said he was giving Ballinger Ridge a "breather" not realising how close the other horses were during the race.

But the prosecution alleges he allowed the horse to slow down because he was involved in a plot with two other jockeys to let horses lose so a crooked betting syndicate could win money.

With 37 years' experience, Murrihy has been asked to give an independent opinion on races said to be involved in a betting scam.

Murrihy said he "had concerns" about 13 out of 27 races he had been asked to view by City of London Police.

He said he would have called a stewards' inquiry in each case and asked the jockey and trainer to explain.

He said Legal Set, ridden by Darren Williams at Lingfield in December 2002, had come third after it failed to take advantage of a gap in the field.

"He elected to stay behind the wall of horses," said Murrihy.

CD Europe, ridden by Fergal Lynch at Southwell in February 2003, lost after a "stark ride devoid of vigour", said Murrihy.

Murrihy said: "At no point do I see Fergal Lynch ask this horse to extend itself to its fullest."

Jockeys Kieren Fallon (aged 42) formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Fergal Lynch (aged 29) of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and Darren Williams (aged 29) of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the conspiracy between December 2002 and August 2004.

Shaun Lynch (aged 38) of Belfast, Miles Rodgers (aged 38) of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Philip Sherkle (aged 42) of Tamworth, Staffordshire, also plead not guilty.

The races resulted in losses except for six wins.

Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. All the defendants are on bail.

Murrihy said he would not have called a stewards' inquiry into some of Fallon's other races.

These included wins on Russian Rhythm at Newbury in May 2004 and on the Queen's horse Daring Aim at Newmarket in July 2004.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.