Kieren Fallon's 18-year-old son Cieren set for first ride at Newmarket on Friday
BY GRAHAM DENCH 7:07PM 16 AUG 2018
Cieren Fallon starts down the road that took his father Kieren to six jockeys' championships and 16 British Classic wins when he partners Rivers Of Asia in a 1m2f handicap at Newmarket on Friday evening.
The 18-year-old, whose mother Julie Bowker rode successfully as an apprentice, received his licence only a fortnight or so ago and there had been talk of waiting for an apprentice race at Wolverhampton next week.
He has big shoes to fill, his name alone carrying huge expectations, but his jockey coach Michael Tebbutt believes he is ready to start.
He will be in at the deep end against jockeys such as Andrea Atzeni, Fran Berry, Gerald Mosse and Tom Queally, but Tebbutt believes that might have its advantages.
Tebbutt, who rides out regularly with Fallon jnr at the stables of William Haggas, to whom the teenager is apprenticed, said: "The plan was for Cieren to have his first ride in an apprentices' race, because that's what they are there for, but there's been a bit of confusion. It might work to his advantage though, as the senior riders will look after him."
He added: "He's a promising rider who always showed a bit of something at the British Racing School. He learned a lot there and has been brought along well since by Mr Haggas, for whom he works hard and rides plenty of work.
"He's passed every step of the process successfully. I've ridden with him plenty at home and also rode round Chelmsford the other morning. He's a lovely lad and the next step is to ride in his first race. He's ready for it."
Explaining how the mix-up happened, Martin Smith, trainer of Rivers Of Asia, said: "I couldn't get hold of Mr Haggas at declaration time to see if it was okay and I heard only afterwards that Cieren was being lined up to start in an apprentices' race.
"It looks as if he will ride anyway, and I think Rivers Of Asia is an ideal ride for a young lad. The softer ground should suit and, with Fran Berry on one side and Hayley Turner two away, it should be a great experience for him."
He added: "His dad rode for my dad before he was born probably. He's a lovely kid and I hope I can give him a good start."
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