Wigan's Cieren Fallon wins Champion Apprentice for second year running

The Wiganer - a former Shevington Strikers and Shevington Sharks amateur - collected his award at Doncaster races yesterday.

Fallon, who has claimed 43 wins in the 2020 Apprentice Jockeys’ Championship, repeats the achievement of Gary Bardwell who won consecutive Champion Apprentice titles in 1987 and 1988.

Fallon, son of six-time Champion Jockey Kieren Fallon, finishes 23 victories ahead of second-placed Harrison Shaw by and 28 in front of third-placed Georgia Dobie.

The 21-year-old said: “It’s an amazing achievement for me, it is something I set out to do after the success of last year.

"I’ve been very lucky to have the people I have around me to help me achieve these goals – my jockey coach, nutritionist, a great boss in Sheikh Fahad, William and Maureen Haggas, my mum and dad. They are all the best at what they do, so I’m very lucky to be in the position.

“Winning the July Cup with Oxted is obviously the greatest highlight of my year and a memorable day. It’s been an amazing two years really, but I don’t want to be overlooked as an apprentice anymore, Oxted has taken me into that Group level, and I want to continue making the step up onto the next level.”

Fallon went to St Wilfrid's Primary in Standish and though his father is a famous jockey, he only got into racing himself late.

William Haggas, with whom Fallon is based and for whom he has ridden seven winners this season, said: “Cieren has done amazingly well since he started in racing and his achievement in winning two apprentice titles tells only half the story. It is well documented that he spent his young life with his mother in Wigan and he came to Newmarket when he was 17 having asked his mother if he could learn to ride.

"Following a spell at the British Racing School, he came to us and has progressed rapidly in the years he has been here. He has natural flair on a horse and keeps himself very fit and focused on race riding.

“It will be extremely hard for him to match the achievements in the saddle of his Father, but I have no doubt that he will give it every chance and all of us here are right behind him in everything he does. One of the most impressive aspects of his title this year is how little he has had to rely on us for rides. He has spread his wings far and wide and whilst he has a long way to go, he is starting to earn the respect of other trainers up and down the country, and we are very proud of him.”

Among Fallon’s 43 wins in the campaign, Fallon secured his maiden Group successes with Oxted, firstly winning the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in June and then returning to the same track to claim the Group 1 Darley July Cup in a thrilling victory.

Other highlights for Fallon this season include a 200/1 win aboard Intercessor at Newbury Racecourse, success with Muraad at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and a win with the Godolphin-owned Global Storm at Newmarket Racecourse.