Oxted Gallops to July Cup Glory

Father and son are separated by a single letter and now also by a single race.

In his extraordinary career Kieren Fallon did almost everything and won almost everything but not once did he manage to put his name on the Darley July Cup (G1). His boy Cieren can now tell him how it's done.

The 21-year-old will forever remember the sunny Newmarket afternoon when he guided Oxted to a famous success in Europe's premier sprint, delighting not only his celebrated parent but also trainer Roger Teal, who joined the triumphant jockey in experiencing a group 1 victory for the first time.

In a sport where major prizes so often fall to the same faces, here was an outcome that was wonderfully different and all the better for it, with connections unaccustomed to competing in the starriest company finding themselves thrust to the pyramid's peak thanks to a 4-year-old gelding who displayed complete authority in defeating Sceptical and Golden Horde.

For former amateur jockey Teal, based in Lambourn's Windsor House Stables only since November, this was a family celebration, as wife, Sue, is Oxted's groom and son, Harry, rides the horse most mornings. 

Family was also a pivotal part of the winning jockey's story. Cieren and Kieren live together in the same Newmarket house, to which the six-time champion jockey returned after walking the course with his son and offering some pre-race advice. Fallon junior thought Fallon senior had still been on the premises when the July Cup was run but by then his mentor's work had been done. Instead, the sorcerer watched from home as his champion apprentice burst into the big time.

"He's got it—I know he's got it," said Kieren on the phone, while Cieren on the track thanked his father, boss William Haggas, jockey coach Michael Tebbut, and the trainer and owners who backed a jockey still able to claim three pounds in most races.

"I always remember what Dad has said in the back of my mind," said Fallon. "He told me to keep it simple, stay straight, and make sure I had him well balanced going into the dip. 

"We still live together so tonight will be interesting. I'll definitely wind him up. He's very proud and has helped me a lot this year and last year. He was going to move to America but stuck around to look after me. I can't thank him enough."

He was also very grateful to Oxted. "I was just a passenger on a very good horse," said Fallon, adding: "He's going places."

So is the jockey and so is the trainer, who sent out Tip Two Win to finish a 50-1 second in the 2018 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1).

"This is the race we've targeted all year," said Teal, his mobile phone pinging with congratulations. "Harry said to me last week: 'This wins the July Cup.' I told him to keep his feet on the ground but when we tacked him up today, he said: 'Dad, this will win.' I didn't want to get myself too carried away but this horse is amazing.

"When he hit the front I thought: 'Oh my God, he's going away here.' Then I saw Adam Kirby getting down into the drive, and I thought: 'He is pulling away here.' Then I thought: 'Keep him going, Cieren, just keep him going.' What a cracking ride!"

Asked what was likely to come next, Teal expressed a keen desire to get drunk. This was definitely a very happy man, as were owner-breeders David Fish and Stephen Piper, who praised the way they had been treated at the racecourse despite having to be kept on the extremities. "The way Newmarket has done this has been superb," said Piper. "We felt special from the moment we walked in."

Special but not quite successful were Sceptical's connections. Part-owner Stephen McAuley pointed the runner-up towards the Curragh's Derrinstown Stud Flying Five (G1), while Golden Horde's jockey Kirby said: "It was a proper race and that was a proper run. I haven't a bad word to say about him."

Nor were there any bad words about the jockey who had just won his first group 1.

"Cieren rode a peach," said Teal. "He's such a cool little dude. I think he's got a bit of a future."

The person Fallon lives with, a man with a bit of past, would no doubt say exactly the same.

Oxted a Budget Breeder's Dream

Oxted gave hope for all breeders operating on a budget as he stormed to victory. Winner of the Betway Abernant Stakes (G3) on his last start, was delivering a maiden group 1 success for his sire, Cheveley Park Stud resident Mayson.

This was a particularly welcome breakthrough for Mayson, who took the July Cup on testing ground himself eight years ago.

The son of Invincible Spirit has been bubbling under the surface with commendable results since his first 2-year-olds raced in 2016, and had 21 stakes performers to his name but no group winner until the emergence of Oxted.

His previous best performers included listed winners Dance Diva, Global Applause, Private Matter, Raydiance, and Rosie Briar, as well as Darley Prix Morny (G1) third True Mason and Wainwright's Flying Childers Stakes (G2) third May Girl.

Mayson stood this season at a fee of £5,000, and has never commanded a price higher than £8,000. He covered 83 mares in 2018 and 90 last year.

Oxted was bred by co-owners Tony Hirschfeld and Stephen Piper and is the first reported foal out of the Choisir mare Charlotte Rosina, who was saddled by Teal to win four races—achieving a decent peak Racing Post Rating of 96 for running a close third in a class 3 handicap over six furlongs at Epsom.

Charlotte Rosina is in turn out of the Piccolo mare Intriguing Glimpse, a four-time winner for Brooke Sanders who ran a cracker when sixth in the Cuisine de France Summer Stakes (G3) on her only effort in stakes company.

Sanders also oversaw the career of Intriguing Glimpse's dam Running Glimpse, a daughter of Runnett who won seven races, including when beating future Ayr Gold Cup winner Sarcita as she broke her maiden at Windsor.

This is a family that has produced plenty of prolific winners but Oxted is the only black-type runner of any kind who is descended from Running Glimpse, who herself was a half sister to Italian and German group 2 scorer Captain Horatius.

Charlotte Rosina has a 3-year-old colt by Equiano, who has won in Poland under the name Whiskey Jar, and a 2-year-old colt by Mayson named Chipstead in training with Teal.

She has experienced difficulties at stud and has not produced a foal since, and is being rested by her owners this year.

Oxted was not the only good advertisement for budget bloodstock in this year's July Cup.

Runner-up Sceptical, a son of Exceed And Excel and Queen Mary Stakes (G2) winner Jealous Again, was bought by owner James McAuley for just £2,800 (US$3,407) from previous owner Godolphin.

Furthermore, third-placed Golden Horde is by Lethal Force, a former stablemate of Mayson at Cheveley Park Stud, and was conceived at a fee of £10,000. The sire now stands at Haras de Grandcamp in Normandy at €6,000.