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I’d like to have been a fly on the wall in ‘discussions’ between M. Owen and T Dascombe which led to young Kingscote losing the ride on Brown Panther in the St Leger. Given Mr Dascombe’s loyalty to the jockey in the past, I am assuming, perhaps wrongly, that Mr Owen made the decision.
There’s no denying his right as owner to choose who rides; I wonder if it is a ‘professional’ decision reflecting Mr Owen’s determination to make his racing venture a profitable business? If so, is it likely to alienate him, to some degree, within the racing ‘community’?
There’s no way of saying if the decision will prove right or wrong. Fallon has experience: Kingscote knows the horse very well.
But for me Fallon’s had his days in the sun; I feel sorry for the kid. If I was lucky enough to own the horse, he’d keep the ride.
I prefer the best available and Kingscote did ride a shocker on him in Germany. Quality and experience in a big race shouldn’t be underestimated.
I agree with you steeplechasing , far better to retain the continuity with a jockey that knows the horse.
I never like to see anyone jocked off. I’d like to know how the change was decided uponGenerally i’d be of the view of keeping a jockey that knows the horse but in this instance i would have went with Fallon,Kingscotes last 2 rides on Bp haven’t been exactly inspiring and Fallon’s firing on all cylinders at the minute, along side this it’s Owens flagship horse and his first and for all he knows only ever chance of classic success so obviously wants to do all necesarry to win!
. . . Kingscotes last 2 rides on Bp haven’t been exactly inspiring . . .
Trainer and jock agree the horse was not himself last time. In Germany RK’s orders were to make the best of his draw and take up a good position – I think he could have been a victim of circumstance that day.
The owner has the right to choose the jockey simple as that. Its hardly a new thing. Fallon is a better jockey than Kingscote.
Kingscote is a promising young jockey. Done me more than one good favour over the years. However, went too fast early in Germany and gave Brown Panther too much to do at Newbury. Don’t think it was the difference between winning and losing on either occasion, but if it came to a close finish every nose might count.
It’s easy for us onlookers to want young Kingscote to ride. The "jockey who knows the horse best" arguement is (imo) only appropriate for temperamental/quirky individuals; Brown Panther is anything but. I believe a top jockey can only make a slight difference ability-wise, but more so for consistency.
Fallon has far more experience of the big occasion and it is quite right connections should make the best decision for the horse’s chance. Brown Panther has soft ground form, stays well and more improvement in him. If he were a rank outsider then fine, keep Kingscote, but he’s right there with a good each way chance.
Value Is EverythingI’d like to have been a fly on the wall in ‘discussions’ between M. Owen and T Dascombe which led to young Kingscote losing the ride on Brown Panther in the St Leger. Given Mr Dascombe’s loyalty to the jockey in the past, I am assuming, perhaps wrongly, that Mr Owen made the decision.
There’s no denying his right as owner to choose who rides; I wonder if it is a ‘professional’ decision reflecting Mr Owen’s determination to make his racing venture a profitable business? If so, is it likely to alienate him, to some degree, within the racing ‘community’?
There’s no way of saying if the decision will prove right or wrong. Fallon has experience: Kingscote knows the horse very well.
But for me Fallon’s had his days in the sun; I feel sorry for the kid. If I was lucky enough to own the horse, he’d keep the ride.
Totally agree.
Richard Kingscote does not deserve this and I hope it does not knock his confidence. He seems to be a very decent young man from what I know of him. One jockey has already said "the b*****ds (this has not come from RK!)
Nothing against K Fallon but I long for the day when jockeys work together against this type of behaviour from owners and trainers. Until this happens (and my guess it never will), most jockeys will always be the peasants and the control will stay with their masters.Taken off instead of Fallon is a massive insult.
Fallon is too old and feeble nowadays.
I do feel really sorry for the young jockey Kingscote.
Lets get real about Fallon, this is a jockey who hasn’t won a classic as far as I can remember for 6 years, and I can only remember one Group 1 race this season and last (happy to stand corrected over that).
He certainly is a fading light in my view.
I accept it is Mr. Owen’s right to choose, but I will have a smile if it goes wrong for him.
Karma – what goes round, comes round, as the say in these parts.Some quotes from Tom Dascombe after the German Derby.
"The plan was never to make it, but that’s what happened," he said. "I told Richard not to waste the good draw and get a position, but we ended up in front. He’s run a nice race. He’s gone from a handicap into a Group One. What happened today is not exactly how we would have planned it, but we can’t complain."
"Sunday’s race just didn’t work out for him. The plan was to drop him in just off the pace, but he broke really well and there was no cover so Richard [Kingscote] let him bowl along. The ground was possibly a little bit softer than ideal, but hopefully that won’t be an issue if he goes to Doncaster."
"I could have taken him somewhere else and won a Group Three at Goodwood or somewhere and he might have won again but without actually having to achieve as much. The handicapper actually put his rating up for his run at Hamburg."
I thought Richard Kingscote showed a bit of gumption and initiative in the race. It is possible, but not certain, that his judgement of pace on that ground might have been a little amiss. The horse’s performance was seemingly better than anything he had produced earlier.
I cannot see that replacing Kingscote in the St Leger is related to his ride in the German Derby.
There may be a short term benefit in having Fallon ride the horse in the St Leger. But in the long term Kingscote will not be able to give the same enthusiasm, motivation and dedication to the team at Manor House Stables. What a contrast to the way that Sir Henry Cecil has supported Tom Queally in the last few years, always putting him up on his top horses in top races before Queally had won a Group 1 race. Turning a deaf ear to suggestions of putting a better jockey up in the 2009 Breeders Cup races, and to the criticisms of a couple of Queally’s rides on Frankel this year. Similarly giving the ride on Twice Over to Ian Mongan in a race that the owners had sponsored for 25 years but never won. It’s obviously a very strong team ethic at Warren Place.
You have to be tough to take a long term view and not cave in to nerves and jitters and thoughts of criticism if it all goes wrong – " if only you’d put up a better jockey!"
Dascombe is quoted today as saying "It’s been a very hard decision but we’ve gone for a more experienced jock." I know the practicalities of employing jockeys and trainers are different, but logically the same agrument can apply to both. I wonder why the owner did not send the horse to be trained by Cecil, Haggas, Gosden, Balding, Fabre or Stoute after its Royal Ascot performance demonstrated the possibility of being placed in a Classic. They are more experienced "Classic" trainers than Tom Dascombe. Are you looking over your shoulder yet Tom; Michael Owen and Bert Black have lots of money and ambition, but dodgy nerves.The love affair with Fallon is completely over the top.
He was a great jockey in his prime now he is becoming more and more like a Mick Fitz in the latter days of his career. A GrandDad who is starting just to embaress himself.
Dont forget Fallon’s rather appalling behaviour regarding Native Khan in the Derby. A good jockey doesnt make him a good person.
Marginal Value, you make some very strong points, especially on Cecil’s loyalty to Queally, and the likelihood of RK being demoralised and demotivated.
Does my memory serve me well in thinking it was P Walwyn, under pressure from Daniel Wildenstein to sack Eddery, who told the very rich owner to take his horses away?
Feature: A walk on the Wildenstein side
J. A. McGrath
Daily Telegraph
23 Jul 2004"The bigger the name, the more likely they are to fall out with the Wildensteins. In 1978, no lesser jockey than Pat Eddery, 11 times champion and partner of over 4,000 winners, was given the order of the boot for his ride on Buckskin, who finished fourth in that year’s running of the Ascot Gold Cup, having been sent off 11-8 favourite. In what was called, in one report, an outstanding example of how to lose gracelessly, Daniel Wildenstein complained about Eddery – but trainer Peter Walwyn stuck by his jockey and told the French owner to look elsewhere for a stable."
I just don’t think Michael Owen has made the right decision here. Keiren Fallon is not sufficiently ahead of RK to balance the risk of a win against the long term impact for his Malpass ‘project’.
I must confess I am still sore in the pocket for the defeat of Quiff under Fallon a few years back, so may not be totally impartial re Fallon and the Doncaster classic.
Still, I am sure Keiren will give Brown Panther a good ride…if he makes it to the course on time.
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