SOUTH AFRICA: Fallon scores in jockeys' challenge

Fallon: on the scoresheet in Cape Town jockeys' challenge 

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  Fallon scores in Cape Town jockeys' challenge By michael clower 4:12PM 14 NOV 2010 Report: South Africa, Sunday

Kenilworth: International jockeys' challenge (Round 2)

A VICTORY for Kieren Fallon at Kenilworth in Cape Town on Sunday was not enough to prevent the home team from beating their international counterparts for the third year in succession in jockeys' challenge.

Having won only one race out of four at Turffontein in Johannesburg on Friday evening, the visitors staged a great fightback on Sunday when both Fallon and Italian champion Umberto Rispoli hit the mark to reduce the deficit.

However, the South Africans still emerged on top by a margin of 468 points to 395.

Fallon struck on 15-2 chance Posh Boy in the 1m 4f handicap, where Riaan Van Reenen's top-weight had to survive an objection from trainer Carl Burger, whose Grey Cossack was beaten only half a length and a head into  third.

Burger complained that  Fallon "had taken his horse on an outward course from the turn into the straight", but the interference was only slight and Fallon had his whip in the correct hand throughout.

Fallon said: "I probably got to the front too soon but my horse was tough and I was able to keep him going."

He was full of praise for the course, saying: "It's a very fair track and the grass is like a cushion. You are notgoing to get a better surface than this."

Rispoli sprang a 25-1 shock on the Mike Bass-trained Pisces Star in the 7f handicap, while Christophe Soumillon and Fly American were beaten only a head by Anton Marcus on Stan Elley's Mastery in the 6f handicap.

But Piere Strydom decided the issue by producing Dean Kannemeyer's 11-month absent Life Of Pi with a devastating late run to pip William Buick on Cask in the 1m handicap.

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