[NoChanceToDance]

Coolmore might not stand by Fallon afterall

From RP......

Coolmore unable to provide assurances over Fallon's future with O'Brien


by Rodney Masters


THE Coolmore operation fell short of giving a future commitment to Kieren Fallon on Monday night in a statement issued as its former retained stable jockey awaited the outcome of counter analysis of the B sample after his positive test for cocaine at Deauville in the summer.

While sympathising with Fallon's ordeal in the Old Bailey race-fixing trial, at which he was acquitted of all charges last week, the statement sanctioned by Coolmore boss John Magnier made a brief reference to the alleged drugs episode, noting that the issue was “a personal one for Kieren”.

The full statement to the Racing Post on Monday night read: “This has been an absolutely terrible time for Kieren.

“He has been subjected to a trial, which could have cost him his liberty; a trial which he clearly should never have been subjected to.

“He lost his right to earn a living in Britain for more than 18 months, and now finds himself threatened with a suspension relating to an incident at Deauville in August.

“The issue with France Galop is a personal one for Kieren and therefore inappropriate for us to comment on.”

Earlier, when Coolmore spokesman Richard Henry was asked if Fallon faced the sack, he replied that as the former champion did not have a retainer for this year, the question was “irrelevant”.

Should the B sample return positive, Fallon faces the prospect of a further 18 months on the sidelines for the offence, and by the time he is free to reapply for a licence he would be 44.

Asked whether Coolmore would use Fallon again at the end of that period of suspension, Henry said: “Why don't you ask me again then?
“Apart from speculation in the media, who says it will be 18 months?”

Varying reports were circulating on Monday regarding the B sample, some suggesting it had returned a positive test.

The findings of the A sample may already have worked to cool relations between the Coolmore team and Fallon, with Henry emphasising that nobody associated with Coolmore “would condone the use of cocaine”.

Henry resolutely quashed speculation that Johnny Murtagh was about to be offered the job as stable jockey.

At the same time, he emphasised that for the foreseeable future the best available jockeys would be used on a day-to-day basis at the star-studded stable, and that selection procedure would be governed by the judgement of trainer Aidan O'Brien.

“There is no truth whatsoever in speculation that Johnny Murtagh is about to be appointed as retained jockey,” said Henry. “I can assure you that no appointment of a stable jockey is about to be made.”

He added: “The plan is to use the best riders available, and the trainer will decide which jockey is best suited to a particular horse.

“That's the way we have operated in recent times, and it is a systemthat has worked well for us.

“Sometimes we have runners in three or four countries on the same day, and using the best available jockey has been the policy. We will continue operating along similar lines in the foreseeable future. Who knows what willhappen in the longer term?”