‘He has grown, he feels great’: Jockey Cieren Fallon’s ominous warning on Lake Forest ahead of 2024 Golden Eagle

Jockey Cieren Fallon fears no rival in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens, declaring his mount Lake Forest to be in the best shape of his short career.

Jockey Cieren Fallon made an ominous assessment of English raider Lake Forest, declaring the William Haggas-trained galloper looks bigger and better than ever ahead of Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Fallon, son of former English champion hoop Kieren Fallon, had just taken Lake Forest for a spin around Canterbury Park as he prepares to ride for Haggas in the Sydney’s lucrative four-year-old event.

“He feels great and I think he has grown,“ Fallon declared.

“He looks much better out here than he has done back home.

“Issy (Paul) has done a great job with him.”

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Lake Forest is one of four internationals aiming to win the Golden Eagle alongside Japanese gallopers Ascoli Piceno and Corazon Beat as well as unbeaten French talent Lazzat.

A placegetter in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot earlier this year, Lake Forest is a $34 chance to win the Golden Eagle.

It will be the first time Fallon rides in Australia in a feature event.

“I only found out pretty late on,” Fallon said.

“We had to wait to make sure the weights weren’t too light.

“When we knew the weights would be OK for me, the boss asked if I would be OK to ride him.

“I am grateful for the opportunity.”

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Fallon has ridden in some of the UK’s biggest races but despite his family name, he didn’t ride a horse growing up in Wigan.

He only decided to become a jockey when he turned 18 and his father has been one of his biggest supporters.

“I speak to dad every day and we go through all the races,“ Fallon said.

“On the big days he will come and walk the track with me and we will go through all the races together.

“He is always telling me when I am doing wrong rather than what I am doing right.

“He never really tells me when I’ve done right but when I have done wrong, he will let me know about it!”

Fallon has spent the week in Australia to prepare for the Golden Eagle.

He has put the time to good use, riding at Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday before heading to Wyong for one ride on Thursday.

Fallon was glad to get the eye in.

“To be able to have a few trials and rides beforehand is always going to help,” Fallon said.

“Obviously if I came out here and had nothing leading up to the race, a week on the sidelines and having nothing leading up to the race, is probably not the greatest idea.

“To have a few trials and rides really helps.”

Forest's 'fresh legs' key for Golden Eagle: Haggas

Lake Forest’s preparation for the $10 million Golden Eagle consists of just two starts this year … but who would doubt English training maestro William Haggas, given his recent Sydney record? 👇https://t.co/Gu5sylgnRS

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) October 31, 2024

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Fallon started his career as an apprentice for Haggas but spent three months of his time in Australia with Lindsay Park and David Hayes at Euroa.

He didn’t have a race ride in Australia but his career has gone on in leaps and bounds from then.

Over the past four years, he’s piloted three Group 1 winners and played a part in some of the biggest days in English racing.

“I have been very lucky and obviously have a powerful stable behind me,” Fallon said.

“Coming out here as an apprentice really benefited my early career.

“I have partnered with a big stable and got lucky to work with (Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah al Thani) and Qatar Racing coming out of my claim.”

Winning the Golden Eagle would undoubtedly be a career highlight for Fallon, who saw his chances enhanced when Lake Forest drew barrier eight in the Rosehill feature.

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“I am very happy with the draw,” Fallon said.

“Some of our main competitors and the favourite (Ascoli Piceno) are drawn out wide and will need to overcome those draws.

“It’s nice to be in the middle so hopefully we can use it and get out nicely.”

Fallon will warm up for the Golden Eagle with the steer on Aristonous in the Cerrone Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m).

Originally published as ‘He has grown, he feels great’: Jockey Cieren Fallon’s ominous warning on Lake Forest ahead of 2024 Golden Eagle