'It's very unfair' - jockey hits back after record £50,000 fine and month's ban after winning $10 million race

JOCKEY Cieren Fallon hit back at the record £50,000 fine and one-month suspension imposed on him for careless driving after winning the $10,000 Golden Eagle in Rosehill, Australia.

Fallon, 25, rode the 18-1 shot of William Haggas, Lake Forest, which is part-owned by Brighton FC owner Tony Bloom.

Fallon's golden hour was later soured by a whopping fine — Fallon’s golden hour was later soured by a whopping fineCredit: Getty

The jock was punished for allegedly causing the horse to slide off the rail in the closing stages of the race.

Second-seeded Lazzat’s Connections launched a protest that culminated in head steward Steve Railton declaring the jock’s actions as “bordering on reckless.”

In an interview three days later, the jockey branded the ban as ‘very unfair’, before going on to say he was confident the appeal he had lodged against it will be successful.

He said: “I think it’s very unfair. If the prize money is so high, I think they are trying to show that the jockeys are still loyal and not trying to win at all costs.

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“It certainly wasn’t a winning maneuver at all costs. He just shunned the winning line and I straightened him out as quickly as I could. So I think it’s very, very harsh.

“We appealed, and I think everyone in Australia said we should win the appeal. They all said it was quite bizarre, with the suspension and the fine, everyone found it hard to believe what they had given me.

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“So we have appealed and we have someone who is very, very good at his job, so I am confident that we will win the appeal.”

The stewards were busy monitoring the race, as there was also another protest on behalf of fifth-placed Stefi Magnetica, again Lazzat.

This led to a £15,000 fine for jock Antonio Orani, as well as another heavy one-month suspension.

Fallon, who worked for Newmarket-based Haggas for nine years, went on to explain how much winning on the world stage meant: The Golden Eagle is Australia’s second richest breed.

He said: “The whole experience was great, driving around the track. It’s a great experience and I’ve learned a lot, and internationally it’s put me on the world stage and hopefully I can go on to bigger rides.

“It’s all good and true that you can do this in your country. You see Ryan Moore winning the Group 1 in every country, so that’s kind of what it’s all about.”

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