Fallon Enjoying Del Mar, Looking for Wins
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Before the inaugural fall meet opened Nov. 7, six-time British riding champion Kieren Fallon had never even been to Del Mar.
But after getting five mounts in the first two days, the 49-year-old rider, with the lilt and brogue of his native County Clare, Ireland, declared how he really liked the place. He plans to ride through the end of the meet Nov. 30.
"There's no place like it, anywhere in the world," Fallon said. "It's just lovely. The facilities and everything here for the jockeys is first rate."
Fallon's best finish so far in the first two days of the meet was a second aboard Gender Agenda for trainer Carla Gaines in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes on opening day. He finished fourth astride the Irish-bred Maibaby for Neil Drysdale in Saturday's Let It Ride.
He knows about tracks around the world. Fallon's record shows major stakes victories by the score in England, Ireland, and France, and assorted others in 10 or more other countries. Among his major stakes scores in the U.S. are the 2005 Arlington Million (gr. IT) aboard Powerscourt, and Breeders' Cup wins with Islington in 2003, and Ouija Board in 2004.
At various times he served as the stable rider for venerated European trainers Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute, and Aiden O'Brien.
Why is he here? He just kind of wanted to see the place and, since Del Mar had a fall meeting ...
"I've always just gone home (after the Breeders' Cup) but I've wanted to see more of California," Fallon said. "Del Mar is just beautiful and hopefully I'll be riding some winners."
Brad Pegram, who also serves as agent for Mike Smith, is lining some up for Fallon.
"It's not going to be easy. It's going to be the toughest place in the world to win," Fallon said. "The best jockeys are here. But if you're going to improve, you want to ride against the best. If anything, I'll improve my riding from being here with them. I figure this is a window of opportunity and if I don't do it now, it'll be too late."