My dad was a legendary jockey who got arrested – we share the same name but now it’s my turn in the limelight
A LEGENDARY jockey who was arrested as part of an alleged race-fixing plot that plunged the sport into crisis has praised his son of the same name – as he hits the big time in his own career.
Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon did it all during his explosive years in the saddle.
Two days back in 2007 are enough to show you how crazy the famed Irish rider’s career was.
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On Sunday, October 7 he won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – one of the world’s biggest races – on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Dylan Thomas.
On Monday, October 8, ‘wearing a dark suit and looking pale’ according to a report from the time, he entered the Old Bailey to face charges of race-fixing.
Prior to all that the Irishman with some of the greatest hands ever won the Derby three times, the Oaks four, the 1000 Guineas four and the 2000 Guineas four as well, before adding a final fifth in 2014.
By the time he retired for good in 2016 a BBC article labelled King Kieren a ‘flawed genius’ and an ‘all-time great’.
There was a lot that went on behind the scenes in his life – drugs, booze, bust-ups with rivals and mental health battles.
And these days he will admit it took his toll.
Racing, and the belief he simply had to win, utterly consumed him.
Not so with son Cieren, though.
One letter difference in their name – but a chasm between them in personality.
It’s one of the reasons Cieren hasn’t suffered burnout in racing, not just from what happens on the racetrack.
His good friend and fellow jockey Stefano Cherchi died earlier this year.
While crippling injuries, such as the broken back he sustained at Windsor, have kept him on the sidelines.
Patience and a life outside racing have kept him on an even keel and his outlook positive.
The reward was a shock 25-1 Betfair Sprint Cup victory aboard Montassib at Haydock earlier this month.
It was a third Group 1 for the 25-year-old, who’s already amassed more than £5.6million in prize money.
Dad Kieren says a more rounded life and ability to switch off – something he lacked – has contributed to his success.
He said: “The good thing about Cieren is not a lot fazes him.
“It was easy to get me upset, especially if I had got beat or rode a bad race, but Cieren is able to shrug it off and that is an important asset he has.
“I would have been tearing my hair out while injured, but the difference we have is I was one-way traffic.
“Eat, sleep, riding races, reading form, everything was racing, whereas he is able to sit back and switch off.
“He loves rugby league, he loves football, he loves his sport.
“I had no interest at all and that was probably my downfall.
“There was no distraction, it was just horses and racing – and obviously after a while, you get burnt out and start making mistakes and things just don’t work out.
“You do have to try to get away and I would never take a holiday, but he is different, which is good.”
And it could reap further dividends at Ascot next month.
The William Haggas-trained Montassib is 6-1 second fav for the Champions Sprint on Champions Day, the big season finale.
Victory is worth £283,550 and would take Fallon’s on-course earnings this year soaring over the £1million mark.
Another reason to make his old man proud.
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