Favoured Saptapadi for the Ebor Handicap at York will have Kieren Fallon as the new jockey
Jockey Kieren Fallon has been nominated to handle the Ebor Handicap favourite 5-year-old chestnut gelding Saptapadi at York on 20 August, 2011.
The Brian Ellison trained gelding had Paul Pickard as his usual jockey for the previous two outings, both at York as Saptapadi finished fifth in both races.
The first one was to go down on 9 July, 2011, at York in the 52nd John Smith’s Cup Heritage Handicap over at a mile and 2 ½ furlongs.
Under Paul Pickard, the gelding did not break too well and consequently was held up by rivals at the rear.
The pair was constantly under pressure because of the heavy traffic, and never saw a viable opening to initiate the comeback.
Three furlongs out, Saptapadi tracked leaders, but bumped into another horse 2 furlongs out, lost all composure but did well to switch to left and continue his run inside the final furlong, finished fifth behind the leader Green Destiny who defeated him
by six lengths.
The second race with Paul Pickard was the Group 2 York Stakes on 23 July, 2011. On a field of 7 horses, the pair got held up again, but tried breaking free with 2 furlongs out. The effort from Saptapadi was visually impressive but there was no clear run
over 1 furlong out.
The pair kept on a steady pace as they got home 2 ½ lengths behind the York Stakes winner Twice Over.
Kieren Fallon, the former champion jockey, could turn Saptapadi’s luck around in the Ebor Handicap with his race winning skills and the knack of occupying crucial places on the field which helped him over the years to win impossible races.
Though Kieren Fallon has ridden the 5-year-old chestnut gelding last year on 14 August, 2010, and the pair finished third on a field of 8 horses at Newbury racecourse in the Group 3 CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
The race was run at a distance of 1 mile and 5 ½ furlongs over a good to soft field. Suddenly, after the break, Fallon pushed Saptapadi harder towards the rear, which helped the horse got in touch with the leaders.
Fallon took keen hold over the horse with five furlongs to go. Saptapadi was taken under a strong drive by the jockey 2 furlongs out but was pushed right as he was hampered well over with a furlong to go.
The pair were forced to be on the left side which made them keep a neutral pace throughout the final furlong, as the finished third behind Sans Frontieres by 3 ½ lengths.
Kieren Fallon will get his leg up on the Ebor Handicap favourite Saptapadi yet again at York a fortnight away.
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