Fallon gets nod for Ebor heroine
Man-of-the-moment Kieren Fallon has the chance to impress yet another top trainer after Willie Mullins handed him the ride on Sesenta in Thursday's DFS Park Hill Stakes.
Mullins, who has one of the most powerful teams in jumps racing, landed a major prize on the level with the diminutive mare when she took the totesport Ebor in the hands of star claimer Gary Carroll.
Fallon has ridden for the trainer on a handful of occasions in Ireland in the last few years and following his hat-trick at Folkestone on Monday, has reminded many of the talents absent from the racing scene during his recently elapsed 18-month drugs ban.
Mullins explained: "Johnny Murtagh was to ride her but he has to be in Ireland. We looked for another jockey and Kieren was available, so it's great to be able to get him."
A further 10 runners were declared to take part in the race commonly referred to as the fillies' St Leger but it does not look like Clowance will be one of them.
Roger Charlton's filly has not run since her fine fourth to Look Here in last year's Oaks and her stable issued a ground proviso regarding her participation at Town Moor.
She has another target, as Charlton revealed during an interview on At The Races.
"Unless we get a cloud burst, it looks like there won't be rain at Doncaster. In which case on Saturday she will go to the Curragh for the Irish St Leger," said the Beckhampton trainer.
"As I gather, at the moment the ground at the Curragh is nearly heavy but it's due to stop raining.
"By the weekend it could be good to soft but they have had a load of rain in Ireland. We need soft ground and hopefully it will still be."
Elaborating on her injury problems, Charlton said: "She has had had a series of little irritating things go wrong. It's now 14, 15 months since she ran. She's had a splint, she's had a joint, she has had all sorts of things go wrong.
"She will definitely need a race but it will just be really nice to get her back.
"There are some nice staying races in the autumn and she is a lovely, big filly. I would think she is sort of 90 per cent there now."
Another Irish-trained York winner along with Sesenta is John Oxx's Galtres Stakes scorer Tanoura, while Aidan O'Brien will run Perfect Truth.
Victoria Montoya steps up to Group Two class after being placed in two Listed races and a Group Three on her last three starts.
Having begun the year with a rating of 78, she is now 19lb higher off 97, forcing trainer Andrew Balding to run her in such events.
"She ran well in that Listed race last time. It looks a very strong race, but she's very well and she'll love the ground," said Balding.
Shemima makes the trip over from France while Cassique Lady, Princess Taylor, Sevenna, Starfala and The Miniver Rose make up the rest of the home team.
Kieren Fallon, who has only recently returned to action, has been snapped up by Mullins for Sesenta.
Fallon has ridden for the trainer on a handful of occasions in Ireland in the last few years although Sesenta was partnered by hot prospect Gary Carroll in the Ebor
Mullins explained: "Johnny Murtagh was to ride her but he has to be in Ireland. We looked for another jockey and Kieren was available, so it's great to be able to get him."
Victoria Montoya steps up to Group Two class after being placed in two Listed races and a Group Three on her last three starts.
Having begun the year with a rating of 78, she is now 19lb higher off 97, forcing trainer Andrew Balding to run her in such events.
"She ran well in that Listed race last time. It looks a very strong race, but she's very well and she'll love the ground," said Balding.
