JOCKEY Cieren Fallon hit back at the record £50,000 fine and one-month ban he was issued for careless riding after winning the $10,000 Golden Eagle in Rosehill, Australia.
Fallon, 25, was riding William Haggas’ 18-1 shot Lake Forest, who is part-owned by Brighton FC’s owner, Tony Bloom.
The jock was punished for supposedly allowing the horse to shift outwards from the rail in the closing stages of the race.
Connections of the second placed Lazzat launched a protest which culminated in the chief steward Steve Railton declaring the jock’s actions as ‘bordering on reckless’.
In an interview three days later, the jockey labeled the ban as ‘very unfair,’ before going on to say he was confident the appeal he has launched against it will be successful.
He said: “I think it’s very unfair. When the prize money is so big I think they’re trying to show the jockeys are still riding true and not trying to ride a win at all costs.
“It definitely wasn’t a winning maneuver at all costs. He just shied away from the winning line and I’ve straightened him as soon as possible. SO I think it’s very very harsh.
“We have appealed, and I think everyone in Australia has said that we should win the appeal. They all said it’s kind of bizarre, with the suspension and the fine, everyone has found it hard to believe what they’ve given me.
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“So we’ve appealed and we’ve got someone out there who’s very very good at his job so I’m confident we’ll win the appeal.”
The stewards were kept busy following the race as another protest was also made on behalf of the fifth-placed finisher Stefi Magnetica again Lazzat.
This led to a £15,000 fine for the jock Antonio Orani as well as another hefty one-month ban.
Fallon, who has worked for the Newmarket-based Haggas for nine-years, went on to explain how much winning on the world stage meant – the Golden Eagle is Australia’s second richest race.
He said: “The whole experience has been amazing, riding on the track. It’s a great experience and I’ve learned a lot, and internationally it’s put me on the world stage and hopefully, I can start picking up bigger rides.
“It’s all well and true being able to do it in your country. You see Ryan Moore winning Group 1s in every single country, so that’s kind of what it’s about. “
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