Sport

Banned Fallon may miss out on Epsom Derby

KIEREN FALLON could miss the Epsom Derby meeting and the start of Royal Ascot after being hit with a 10-day ban in Rome yesterday…

Mon May 26 1997 - 01:00

KIEREN FALLON could miss the Epsom Derby meeting and the start of Royal Ascot after being hit with a 10-day ban in Rome yesterday.

Henry Cecil's stable jockey was suspended after his mount Musical Dancer veered left in the closing stages of the Derby Italiano, badly hampering Risiat.

Musical Dancer, trained by Ed Dunlop, was demoted from fifth to seventh in the race, with Fallon suspended from June 6th to 17th inclusive and fined four million lire.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's Single Empire, ridden by David Harrison, won the race. German challenger Ungaro was second with Chapple-Hyam's other runner, Panama City third, and Paul Cole's Badlesmere fourth.

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Fallon's ban compounds a disastrous weekend for him. He picked up a four-day suspension on Saturday for dropping his hands at Doncaster.

The stewards sidelined the Irishman for June 2nd to 5th after finding him guilty of failing to ride out Highborn, who surrendered third place by a short head behind Waypoint in the Merlin Land Rover Handicap.

But yesterday's ban is a hammer blow, with Fallon due to ride either Reams of Verse and Yashmak for boss Henry Cecil in the Vodafone Oaks on June 6th as well as Symonds Inn in the Vodafone Derby the following day.

Fallon, who was reported to be considering an appeal, experienced an upward surge in his career after he became the surprise choice to be Cecil's stable jockey this year.

The 32-year-old has had several brushes with authority, notably when banned for six months from September 1994 for violent or improper conduct after a clash with Stuart Webster at Beverley.

Fallon was also banned for seven days at Thirsk in June 1994 for hitting fellow jockey Chris Rutter with his whip.

But his association with Cecil made a smooth start as he enjoyed classic success aboard Sleepytime in the Pertemps 1000 Guineas earlier in the month.

Meanwhile, Geoff Wragg's Sasuru continued his relentless progress when landing a short-neck victory over fellow British raider Wixim in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

It was only in the last stride that Michael Hills's mount poked his nose in front, and the winner will now be aimed for either the Prince of Wales's Stakes of Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sasuru now has the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 5th as his long-term aim.

There was no joy for the struggling Goldophin operation as Tamayaz lost his lead two furlongs from home and faded out to finish last of six in the nine-furlong Group One contest.

Sasuru had to survive a stewards' inquiry, although it seemed that it was Wixim (Thierry Jarnet) who caused any interference.

Michael Hills, Sasuru's jockey, commented: "I think we might have got the race anyway if the photograph had gone against us."

Wragg now considers it is time to try Sasuru over one and a half miles. "I really think he will get that trip," said Wragg. "We are considering the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot with the Prince of Wales's Stakes as an alternative. In the longer run we must be thinking about the Arc."