Cieren Fallon Appointed Second Jockey to Qatar Racing

2019 Champion Apprentice Cieren Fallon has accepted a position as second jockey for Qatar Racing on Wednesday morning. The 21-year-old’s new role is for two years and he joins reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who has first call for Sheikh Fahad’s operation. Fallon rode out his claim last Friday. He also booted home his first Group 1 winner aboard Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket last month. Qatar Racing is expanding its jockey pool due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic which has caused the British Horseracing Authority to mandate that jockeys can only ride at one meeting per day.

“The one-meeting restriction, brought in by the BHA, means we need to expand our team; Sheikh Fahad and I are thrilled that Cieren is joining as second jockey–he will be a huge asset,” said David Redvers, Racing Manager of Qatar Racing. “Sheikh Fahad has been watching Cieren from the outset of his career and has been very impressed by his riding under the tutelage of William Haggas. He has an incredibly calm demeanour for his age, an intuitive riding style and is very level-headed.”

Added Fallon, who is the son of multiple champion jockey Kieren Fallon, “I feel hugely honoured to be joining the Qatar Racing team and am very thankful for those who have supported me to date. I am looking forward to what will hopefully be a very successful partnership.”

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The Lir Jet Headed To Phoenix

G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), beaten a head when second in the July 19 G2 Prix Robert Papin, is set for next Sunday’s G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. The Qatar Racing colourbearer was originally slated for the Aug. 21 Nunthorpe S. against elders, but trainer Michael Bell said that is likely off the table now.

“The Lir Jet worked well this morning,” Bell said. “He is likely to go to Ireland now for the Phoenix S. as plans have been made to get him there. We were thinking of the Nunthorpe, but we thought while he is in great order we may as well give him another chance [at six furlongs]. He just got beat in France on the nod and it was a case of one having its head up and the other having its head down. We could end up dropping back down to five with him, but there are no Group 1 2-year-old-only five-furlong races around and with the penalty he would have to carry in other races we thought it was sensible to try him at six.”

He added, “You can never rule anything out, but I would say it is highly unlikely he would run in the Nunthorpe as well, as he would have been to France and Ireland and then coming back for a Nunthorpe would be quite a lot for a 2-year-old. If he was to win we would rest on laurels for a bit, if he finished a good second or third we could then look at the Flying Childers.”

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Darain Takes the Next Step at Newmarket

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features the return of pricey ‘TDN Rising Star’ Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 3yo/up, 10fT
DARAIN (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on an impressive winning debut at Newbury earlier this month, where the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper earned TDN Rising Star status. Qatar Racing and Watership Down Stud’s 3.5million gns son of the high-class Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and full-brother to Too Darn Hot (GB) represents the John Gosden stable and has a seven-pound penalty as he meets seven maidens.

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Nunthorpe Next Port of Call for The Lir Jet

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 19, still in Bell’s care.

Bell said, “He’s back in the yard and seems none the worse for his exertions, thankfully. I’ve just been talking to Sheikh Fahad and I think we’re going to drop back to five furlongs for the Nunthorpe–that’s the thinking at the moment. Oisin [Murphy] is pretty emphatic that he’s better horse over five furlongs and the form book would suggest that, too.”

Facing the best European sprinters in the Nunthorpe, The Lir Jet will fortunately receive a hefty break in the weights.

“If the Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) we know turns up, he’ll be a worthy favourite, but if we don’t go there you’d be running somewhere carrying penalties, or running over six furlongs in the G1 Prix Morny, which would mean more travelling,” Bell added. “It’s not set in stone, but Sheikh Fahad’s view is you don’t succeed if you don’t try, which is a good attitude to have.”

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