Irish Derby: Brian O'Connortalks to one of the unsung heroes of the weighing room who just gets on with things quietly
Even if the skies over the Curragh end up drenching the Budweiser Irish Derby crowd tomorrow afternoon, it will still feel like a long overdue moment in the sun for at least one of the classic's main players.
Another Group One success might provoke one of those defiant roars of triumph by Kieren Fallon, the one he specialises in when passing the post in front. Or it might be a consciously restrained grin from Mick Kinane. We might even get some arse-slapping from France's very own Pythonesque champion, Christophe Soumillon.
But what will happen if Joe Fanning can get the €150,000 supplementary entry Boscobel home in front is impossible to predict for the very simple reason that Fanning has never had a Group One success to celebrate before.
Back home in Ireland, with the country's most valuable race in his pocket, it might all be enough to have the 36-year-old Co Wicklow native attempting the Frankie Dettori flying dismount that has followed the Derbys at both Epsom and Chantilly this summer.
That that famous victory salute doesn't get the chance of another airing by the man himself at the Curragh is a result of some alarmingly amateurish confusion among the Sheikh Mohammed team that saw an opportunity to have Dettori's whip ban postponed for this weekend missed.
When you're paying out €150,000 to put a horse into a race, it might seem prudent to check that your first choice rider is okay to ride but with Dettori now reduced to sunning himself in Sardinia, a glorious opportunity has fallen to Fanning to secure the first Group One of his career. Incidentally, his first success in his native country came on Three Green Leaves at Cork in October 1998.
Normally Fanning gets to sit the very biggest days out. The phrase "journeyman" could have been invented for him. Widely respected in the jockeys room and always likely to bang in more than a respectable tally of winners each year, Fanning, nevertheless, has had to grow accustomed to stepping aside.
A splendidly judged piece of riding from the front on Boscebel at Royal Ascot just eight days ago secured a King Edward VII Stakes success that was enough to have the Sheikh dipping into his wallet for the supplementary fee.
Fanning could have been forgiven for starting an automatic sideways shuffle earlier this week but for once the big race breaks have gone his way and he remains on board Mark Johnston's fast improving colt. Typically however, that doesn't seem to have produced any perceptible rise in excitement in the man. A calm individual not given to eruptions of public excitement anyway, there appears to be a resolute determination to downplay any suggestion of over-hyping what could be by far the biggest day of his career.
It's hardly surprising that Fanning doesn't believe in losing the run of himself. A steady-as-she-goes attitude has served him well up to now, and no doubt helped in the past when he has been overlooked for the occasions when it really counts.
Johnston's rise to the top of the training tree in Britain has been significantly boosted by having the quiet man from Roundwood on his side but despite having ridden the likes of the champion two-year-old Shamardal in his earlier races, it has usually been riders such as Kevin Darley or Jason Weaver who have been put up on the big day.
"It's just part and parcel of the game," Fanning says. "Of course, it would bother anyone but that's just life." Significantly however, Fanning is still an integral part of the powerful Johnston team, long after the likes of Weaver and Keith Dalglish, both of whom were ahead of the Irishman in the pecking order at the yard, have had to retire from the game due to weight problems. Last year he notched up the first century of winners of his career and with over 60 to his credit so far in 2007 he is well on target for a best ever tally. To cap it all, he now has a rare chance to sup at the very top table.
It's been quite a journey for Fanning who left Ireland in the late 1980s after a couple of years riding out at the Curragh for various trainers. Working mainly for Tommy Fairhurst, his first winner came on board Henry Will at Yarmouth in June of 1990. His first significant success came three years later on High-flying in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
However, it is his association with Johnston that has been the mainstay of his career and the top north of England trainer remains a firm fan of his jockey.
After Boscobel's triumph last week, Johnston expressed surprise it was just Fanning's second Royal Ascot victory but admitted: "It's probably because over the years I've been sending him to the likes of Ayr. He gave Boscobel a great ride from the front." The colt has been generally making the running under Fanning this season but that Ascot victory means that the opposition at the Curragh will be alive to the danger of giving the partnership an uncontested lead tomorrow. That, however, isn't a concern for the rider.
"He doesn't have to be at the front. He is very straight-forward and I can vary things up if I want. Maybe they'll go quicker at the Curragh than they did at Ascot but that won't be a problem," Fanning says.
He also isn't concerned about the colt appearing again just nine days after the hardest race of his career. "It depends on the horse and this fella is tough," he declares. "And winning the two races has been done before."
Shareef Dancer did the double 24 years ago when beating an Epsom winner (Teenoso) and a French Derby victor (Caerleon) and the supplementary fee alone is an encouraging €150,000 bet by Boscobel's connections that lightning might strike twice.
"I suppose it is a big opportunity, and good for my career," says his jockey, sounding like the idea has only just occurred to him. "But we will just have to see how it goes. It's a good race with a lot of good horses in it. He is stepping up in class but he deserves the chance."
Johnston is of the same opinion and crucially, if the skies do open, the trainer doesn't believe that will be a problem to his horse, saying: "He will handle any ground and if it's on the soft side it might inconvenience some of the others."
Fanning's previous classic experience at the Curragh consists of two runner-up placings on Yavana's Pace in the S Leger, to Kayf Tara in 1999 and Arctic Owl the following year. Neither close shave with top-flight success left him wondering about what might have been. "We were beaten fair and square both times," he says.
That's Fanning's way, quietly and efficiently getting on with the job. If Boscobel does win tomorrow, post-race histrionics are likely to be kept to a minimum.
It might be a Group One classic worth €1.5 million rather than a handicap at Ayr or Carlisle but those habits of a lifetime are unlikely to change now.
IRISH DERBY WINNERS: Five of the best
1 Montjeu (1999)
Completed the French-Irish Derby double in style with a four-length defeat of the Epsom runner-up Daliapour under Cash Asmussen. Went on to win the Arc under Michael Kinane and returned to the Curragh in 2000 for a memorable victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Awesome in his pomp.
2 Generous (1991)
The best ever clash of the Epsom and Chantilly Derby winners resulted in Alan Munro's mount beating Suave Dancer. Positions were reversed later that year in the Arc but during the summer Generous was the undisputed number one.
3 Sinndar (2000)
Won by eight lengths and yet John Oxx suspects he wasn't at his absolute best at the Curragh. Proved the point by completing the English Derby-Irish Derby-Arc de Triomphe treble.
4 Galileo (2001)
Filled a major gap in Mick Kinane's CV when doing the Epsom-Curragh double before going on to land the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. A real mile and a half star which subsequent defeats in the Champion Stakes and the Breeders' Cup over 10 furlongs only confirmed.
5 High Chaparral (2002)
The suspicion remains he was better going left-handed but he still managed to easily complete the Epsom-Curragh double. Also won the Breeders' Cup Turf twice and proved his versatility with a typically brave victory in the Irish Champion Stakes. Rarely won by far but there have been few more resolute.
This will be the last Irish Derby sponsored by Budweiser. Great champions have won over the last 21 years but the best of the best are:
