Let's talk about... Kieren Fallon and his career highlights including 2000 Guineas swansong on Kieren Fallon

By Sporting Life

08:19 · MON April 27, 2020

Richard Mann hones in on the final significant act of Kieren Fallon's colourful story of race-riding, where the man in the saddle made the difference to claim Classic glory.

What are your favourite Kieren Fallon rides and moments in or out of the saddle? Share your thoughts with us via racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and they will appear at the foot of the article.

Richard Mann - Thunder strike a final reminder

There were many chapters to the life of Kieren Fallon but it is one right at the end of his story that might well give him most pleasure.

Having returned to race riding at the end of 2009 following a lengthy suspension, Fallon found big-race rides harder to come by than had been the case earlier in his illustrious career, for all he continued to churn out a high volume of winners.

In 2011 he still managed 154 domestic winners but it was three years later, in 2014, when Fallon made his last significant impact on a sport to which he owed a lot having burst onto the scene in the early 90s.

Having picked up the spare ride on 40/1 outsider Night Of Thunder in the 2000 Guineas following Richard Hughes’ decision to ride stablemate Toormore, Fallon defied the odds to claim his 16th and final British Classic victory in a race that will be remembered for so many reasons.

Night Of Thunder had created a deep impression in winning his two starts as a two-year-old but few gave him a chance before Newmarket following his comprehensive defeat at the hands of hot favourite Kingman in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury only a few weeks earlier.

That Kingman went on to rout Night Of Thunder later in the season illustrates the task that faced Richard Hannon’s colt on the Rowley Mile, but the foundations of Fallon’s legend were built on his ability to get his horses do things other jockeys could not, and this was again in evidence in early-May.

Having settled his mount towards the back of the far side pack early on, Fallon could be seen winding Night Of Thunder up in trademark style with over two furlongs to run, still tucked away on the rail ,while James Doyle swept by on Kingman down the outside.

Nevertheless, Night Of Thunder was now beginning to respond to his rider’s urgings and while Kingman saw too much daylight and found himself in front too early for a horse with such a push-button turn of foot, Fallon timed his challenge to perfection.

Could Calyx be a major force at stud? Time will tell

As Kingman began to wilt in front, Fallon was now working up a full head of steam on Night Of Thunder who was soon on the heels of the market leader as they thundered deep inside the final furlong.

There was still time for more drama, however, Night Of Thunder ducking sharply to his left just as he was about to inch in front and leaving Fallon with a split second decision to make what would prove the difference between victory and defeat.

Sensing that Night Of Thunder was still going forward despite his drift across the course, Fallon opted not to switch from his right-hand drive and risk losing momentum at a crucial stage; instead, allowing his mount to continue his surge to the winning line until putting down his stick late on and finishing the job with a hands and heels ride.

It proved to be a race-winning move, a decision made in a mere moment that few other jockeys would have had the riding craft or bottle to pull off on the biggest stage. Had Fallon opted to switch his persuader to his left hand in order to straighten his mount up, the loss of momentum so late in the piece would, in all probability, have cost him the race.

Night Of Thunder finished his career a dual Group One winner, and a mighty fine horse in his own right, but Kingman left Newmarket behind by becoming one of the finest milers of our generation, and his subsequent exploits at stud are ensuring his legacy lives on.

The one blip on his mark sheet came in the spring of 2013 when Kingman’s own brilliance was nullified by a genius in the saddle. Like so many times before, Kieren Fallon had been the difference.

How many races will there be in the #Guineas tomorrow or will they all stick together?

Night Of Thunder, ridden by @kierenfallon, had a play on both sides of the track before his stunning defeat of Kingman and Australia in 2014. pic.twitter.com/PgqtlzhRjt
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2018

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Send in your favourite Kieren Fallon moments and other contributions to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks, please let us know.

Feedback from readers

Dave Chapman: As a rider he sure had a chequered life both inside and outside of his sport plus he had his well documented issues with food yet he still managed to get to the top of his sport. He was a fantastic rider -one of the very best, you have to think that if his personality was that of a hard working head down pro eg AP Mc Coy then Mr Fallon may well of been as good as anyone we have seen.

Simon from Newark: Chester Cup 1995 - TOP CEES. The horse had run a very promising prior race, at Newmarket from memory, where he was far too late on the scene. I was encouraged enough to have my modest maximum on at Chester. With under a mile to go a colleague burst into my office, where the TV was on, with some apparently important news. 'Shut up', I said. 'I am about to win quite a bit of money.' Fallon had Top Cees beautifully placed on the heels of the leaders and once he pressed the button it was all over. What a wonderful rider he was when the money was down!

Martyn Weston: Fallon is probably my favourite ever jockey. I used to love watching him ride, he was strong in the finish, but he was also poetry in motion when he was in perfect sync with his horse. His winding up style when 2f-3f from the finish was often timed to perfection. He just had this ability where he seemed to be mentally in tune with his mount and often didn’t resort to the persuader, unless necessary. For me, one of the greatest sights in racing was watching Fallon get up on the line by half a length, then frantically look as if he can’t pull the horse up after the race ( I always felt this was his signature low key equivalent of Frankie’s flying dismount)

Whilst he rode many great horses throughout his career. One horse I used to love watching him ride was Drunken Sailor for Luca Cumani. He was a classy and quirky sort, but he seemed to take a bit of getting to know and Fallon just seemed to have this great understanding with the horse. I think Fallon is on record as saying he was not a great fan of Goodwood as a course, but he produced some of his finest rides on Drunken Sailor at Goodwood and I would recommend anyone take a look back on the races at Goodwood and marvel at the skill of these rides.

Tony Harbour: What a superb jockey he was. Must be up there as one of the all time greats. So many great rides to select from. KINGS BEST has to be one of them. Sitting at the back in the 2000 Guineas coming through a large field to storm away beating Giants Causeway was just fantastic. Another which is a joy to watch is HURRICANE RUN winning the Arc. Again he was towards the back of the field weaving through to go up the inside for a brilliant victory. I must say I miss him riding.

Arc de Triomphe 2005 - Hurricane Run