• Horse Racing

Fallon suffers Derby KO

Kieren Fallon initially agreed to ride Native Khan in The Derby, according to owner Ibrahim Araci © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Pour Moi denies Queen a Derby win
  
• News: Fallon faces anxious wait on Recital verdict
  

Kieren Fallon has been prevented from riding in The Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon by a High Court injunction.

The action was brought by the owner of Native Khan, Ibrahim Araci, who claimed Fallon reneged on a deal by deciding to ride Recital instead of his horse.

Mr Araci said Fallon had broken a "promise" to ride Native Khan and argued that, under the terms of a retainer agreement, the three-time Derby winner should not be allowed to ride any other horse in the race.

Recital, the third favourite, will now be mounted by Pat Smullen.

Fallon looked on course to ride Recital when the High Court refused to grant an injunction on Friday, but that ruling has subsequently been overturned on appeal.

Fallon, who attended a hearing on Thursday, denied breach of contract and said he had been the victim of an "innocent misunderstanding".

Native Khan will be partnered by Johnny Murtagh in Saturday's Classic.

Mr Araci was said to be "thrilled" by the ruling. His lawyer, Mehmet Erdogan, said: "He's thrilled. He always trusted the British legal system, that's why as a foreigner he invested in this country. He believed that justice would never go wrong in the UK.

"Five days before the race, surprisingly and shockingly, he (Fallon) informed our client that he would not be running our client's horse, but riding a competitor's horse. That was breach of contract."

Fallon's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said: "Kieren is obviously disappointed and very sorry not to be riding in the Derby this afternoon. He wishes the owner of Native Khan the very best of luck and hopes that Pat Smullen has a good ride on Recital too."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.