News: Kieren Fallon is free to ride in Australia for the first time in his career after the racing authorities in Victoria yesterday cleared the controversial former champion jockey to ride Yeats in next month's Emirates Airlines Melbourne Cup, writes Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent
Fallon is banned from riding in Britain after being charged with conspiracy to defraud in a race-fixing scandal and that ban was subsequently repeated in the USA, which means he will miss out on the prestigious Breeders' Cup in Kentucky on November 5th.
The authorities at Racing Victoria have, however, differed from the Americans and confirmed yesterday Fallon will be able to ride in "the race that stops a nation" on November 7th.
The 41-year-old was invited to apply for a licence last week and a statement from Australia said yesterday:
"Kieren Fallon will be permitted to ride at this year's Spring Carnival after Racing Victoria approved the Irish jockey's application for a Victoria A (flat) riders licence."
Yeats, winner of the Ascot and Goodwood Cups this year, but beaten in the Irish St Leger, was redirected to the Melbourne Cup after initial doubts about him travelling.
Bookmaker reaction to yesterday's news about Fallon resulted in predictions of sustained support for Yeats in the ante-post betting for the Cup, with Coral making the five-year-old double Group One winner a 7 to 1 favourite.
Fallon will not be in action at Newmarket this weekend but Michael Kinane has come in for a major spare ride with the news that he will be on board Hurricane Run in the Champion Stakes.
The 2005 Arc winner has been ridden only by Fallon and Christophe Soumillon up to now in his career but Kinane rode his sire, Montjeu, who was runner-up to Kalanisi in the Champion Stakes six years ago having run fourth in the Arc.
Hurricane Run filled the same position at Longchamp 11 days ago but his trainer, Andre Fabre, reported that the colt has emerged unscathed from that race.
"I think Kinane will fit the horse," added Fabre.
BETTING: Melbourne Cup: 7-1 Yeats, 8-1 Headturner, Tawqeet, 9-1 Sphenophyta, 10-1 Railings, 12-1 Activation, Geordieland, Imperial Stride, Our Smoking Joe, Zipping, 16-1 On A Jeune, Serenade Rose, 20-1 bar.
