The Fallon Factor: “You can’t beat a horse that loves to win and he’s got that attitude”

3.05 Royal Ascot – Queen Mary Stakes

I’ve ridden a lot of work for Wesley Ward and all of his horses are very well behaved. The work he does at the gates is incredible and the European horses can’t keep up with his – they’re out of the gate and gone. They stay running as well, which makes them tough to catch. Stalls work is a big part of US racing. They are held against the front of the gate and basically thrown out by the stalls handlers. The start’s so important in America and if you break slow from the gates then you won’t get any rides. They repeat and repeat stalls work in their training and it gives them a huge advantage when they come over. As a result, Happy Like A Fool will be very hard to beat. If there’s one that could catch her, then it might be Heartache.

3.40 Royal Ascot – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

John Gosden rates Laugh Aloud as his best prospect of the week. If he says that then you have to listen. He’s a very clever man and puts a lot of thought into the horses and their races. He always goes through the race with you but doesn’t tie you down; if things change in a race you have the flexibility to go with Plan B. I like that.

4.20 Royal Ascot – Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Highland Reel’s a horse I’ve got a lot of time for. He’s as tough as nails and he loves a battle. You can’t beat a horse that loves to win and he’s got that attitude. They really fight for the line and stick their heads out all the way to get in front. When I won the King George on Golan in 2002 I beat Richard Hills on Nayef. All the way up the straight Nayef kept poking his head in front but Golan kept coming back and kept coming back. He wanted it, and Highland Reel is the same.

5.00 Royal Ascot – Royal Hunt Cup

In a lot of these big-field races they tend to come up the middle and I think that lessens the art of race-riding. It’s great for punters as it should be fairer, but if I was riding something near the front I’d want to take them across to one side and make it tough for those in behind and bunch them up. Anyway, on to this year’s race and you need a very talented horse to win this race. El Vip and Fastnet Tempest are considered to be Group horses running in a handicap. Either of those two can easily win.

5.35 Royal Ascot – Sandringham Handicap

Gymnaste is the place to start in this race and has an obvious chance. However, don’t forget Really Special. She’s a very good filly and has been training excellently since she came back from Dubai. I rode her work last week and she went really well. She can race keenly so she’ll need to get settled, but I couldn’t be happier with what she’s doing at home.

Good luck,
Kieren