‘I’d back her in the Derby’ – Legendary jockey says £325,000 Epsom Oaks runner is an absolute good thing

LEGENDARY jockey Kieren Fallon says the £325,000 winner of the Oaks is a ‘foregone conclusion’ – and he’d even back her in the Derby.

Ryan Moore has opted to ride Aidan O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk in the prestigious Group 1 for fillies and the dream duo have combined to win two of the past five renewals.

PA

Kieran Fallon says there is no way 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower will be beaten in Friday’s Oaks[/caption]

But Fallon is certain Desert Flower is an absolute good thing this year.

Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin three-year-old – who will be ridden by William Buick – was awesome in winning the 1,000 Guineas last month.

And Fallon believes there are absolutely no question marks over her ability to stay the 1m4f trip on the Downs.

The six-time former champion jockey – who recently revealed two things he hates about racing today – said of the 13-8 favourite: “If the filly was running in the Derby I would think she would be very competitive, I would be wanting to back her.

“I think the Oaks is a foregone conclusion and she ticks all the boxes.

“She settles and will switch off nicely and she will be fine over the trip and she will go on any ground.

“She’s the nicest filly I’ve seen in a long time and I thought she would maybe even be good enough to beat the colts.”

Fallon knows what he is talking about.

He won the Oaks four times between 1997 and 2006 and bagged the Derby three times in six years from 1999.

Buick and Appleby combined to land the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas last month.

And their superstar colt Ruling Court is joint-fav with O’Brien’s Delacroix to win his second Classic in a row in Saturday’s £1.5million Derby.

But Fallon, who rides out at Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks base, isn’t so sure on his credentials.

He added: “Maybe it’s best to stick with Ryan Moore and the draw for Delacroix (in 14) doesn’t really matter if the horse is good enough.

“Ruling Court has lots of speed and won the best trial, but will he stay?

“I think Delacroix is guaranteed to stay whereas Ruling Court isn’t.

“He’s a horse with a lot of speed, but if there is a bit of cut in the ground it might not be ideal.

“Aidan has a great record in the race and you have to respect that, but it would be a very nice double if Charlie could do it.”

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