CIEREN Fallon continued to show off his talents in West Wales at the weekend, and the apprentice sensation made headlines with his win in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday aboard Oxted for Roger Teal.
He followed that with an exceptional treble at Ffos Las, which began with another winner for Teal aboard Kyllachys Tale, before the 20-year-old made 15/2 shot Blue Laureate (Ian Williams) look like an odds-on chance in the two-mile handicap.
He left the best to last, however, and I genuinely doubt whether any other apprentice could have scored aboard 18/1 outsider Good Impression (Dai Burchell) in the finale. Not only did the jockey have to conjure another run from Good Impression after looking like being swamped inside the last, but he showed impeccable judgment to get his mount into a winning position initially. Then moving up from an unpromising position on a horse who wasn’t travelling particularly well, but gaining ground at what turned out to be a crucial juncture of the race.
It’s hard to believe that this time a year ago he was having his first ride in public. He’s destined for greatness granted a modicum of good fortune.
More plunder for Irish yards
IRISH yards were first second and third in the Listed Harry Roseberry Stakes at Ayr yesterday. Fozzy Stack took the honours with Piece Of Paradise (16/1) under Chris Hayes. Lady Penelope took second for Joseph O’Brien from Willie McCreery’s Ickworth in third.
Ffos Las is arguably an easier venue to get to from Ireland than from many parts of the mainland, and it has been a happy hunting ground for Irish stables.
Last Sunday it was so again with wins for Andrew Hughes’ Rominintheglomin in the nursery, and for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Sarah Jessica in the fillies’ handicap. The former paid a handsome dividend for SP backers at 16/1.