Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Horse racing: Kieren Fallon rides Al Zir in Derby


The colt, which finished ninth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on his only outing so far this season, is a 33-1 chance with most bookmakers.

On a day of shocks in racing, it was revealed that Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride Al Zir for Godolphin in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Fallon had been lamenting the possibility of missing out on the Classic. He was passed over for Ted Spread, and had been waiting for a call from Aidan O’Brien for one of the Ballydoyle team, but the call never came.

Godolphin will have Frankie Dettori riding stable elect Rewilding, now 8-1 from 12-1 with Ladbrokes, Ahmed Ajtebi aboard 66-1 chance Buzzword, and now Fallon on Al Zir.

Simon Crisford, racing manager for the 'royal blues,’ said; “Kieren Fallon’s record in the Derby is fantastic, and he was available.”

The unbeaten sprinter was under consideration for either the Golden Jubilee Stakes or the King’s Stand Stakes, but is not yet at peak fitness from a protracted spell on the sidelines.

Overdose, the legendary Hungarian horse dubbed the 'Budapest Bullet’, will not run at Royal Ascot.

Although pencilled in to return at Bratislava on June 6, after which a trip to Berkshire beckoned, those plans have now been scrapped.

Owner Zoltan Mikoczy said: “Having seen the horse train and evaluated this, it was decided not to take part at Bratislava or Ascot.

Overdose has been off the track since last April as he recovers from a foot injury.

Royal Ascot hospitality

Horse racing Hospitality

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