Fallon And Thomas Survive For Arc Glory

Drama is never far from Kieren Fallon and his supporters had to survive an excruciating 35-minute wait before Dylan Thomas was awarded victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

After holding the storming late run of Youmzain aboard Aidan O'Brien's flagbearer, he was hauled into the stewards' room as officials looked into interference to Zambezi Sun halfway down the straight.

And there was a tense silence hanging in the warm Parisian air until the 11-2 chance was finally confirmed the winner, with a head the official margin of victory.

Fallon jumped from the stalls on the four-year-old less than a day before he is due to appear before Mr Justice Forbes in the Old Bailey for the start of a four-month trial in which he is accused of conspiring to defraud Betfair customers ? a charge he denies.

Any thought of the Central Criminal Court must have been far from Fallon's mind as he settled Dylan Thomas in mid-division before pulling him out to challenge.

Despite the gluey conditions, his mount lengthened in style and sailed past stablemate Solider Of Fortune to take the lead inside the final 200 yards.

Drama ensued as 66-1 outsider Youmzain charged towards him and kept snapping at his heels, with Sagara taking third and Epsom Derby hero Authorized never threatening.

Six-times champion jockey Fallon said: 'It's hard to say what I feel like. This is probably one of the best days of my life.

'I was very worried about the inquiry but the boys were confident I wouldn't lose it.

'Stephane Pasquier (rider of Zambezi Sun) helped me in the stewards' room and he backed me up. He owed me one (after being involved in an incident in the Grand-Prix de Paris when Fallon was unseated) but I think he has paid it back now.

'He is a good friend of mine and the one I had the most interference with and he stood by me.

'I would have preferred it if they had gone quicker in the race and the pace was stronger.

'I was travelling too easy and got a length or too further back than I wanted to be, which made it awkward and I ended up giving Stephane my position.

'When I made my challenge he had gone three-parts up and my horse has gone right on me.

'I could feel Youmzain coming but even if they had gone round again they wouldn't have got by him as he is tough, genuine and has done it all now.

'Ever since I won the Irish Derby on him last year I knew he would be a great horse.

'He was able to do this on ground he doesn't like, which shows how good he is.

'I almost got off him during the week to ride Soldier Of Fortune but Aidan convinced me the ground would be drying out and possibly that is the only reason I have ridden him today.'

Dylan Thomas was providing O'Brien with a first win in the race but he was keen to lavish praise on his stable jockey as well as his all-conquering colt.

He said: 'What a masterful ride he gave him and I don't think he has ever been beaten on this horse.

'When Kieren gets on a horse he goes into a different land. What a unique talent he is.'

He added of Dylan Thomas: 'He is a marvellous horse and has won despite everything.

'Everyone knows he is best on hard ground but he is a wonderful horse and Kieren gave him a great ride.

'On real fast ground he is amazing. We were worried about the ground but he has overcame it today with his determination and he always gives his all.

'We felt coming into the race that this horse is a heavyweight and a lot of the horses in it were still middle or lightweights.

'The plan if everything goes well is to go for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

'I am not sure if he will stay in training next year but he probably won't. He is so unique and is the last of the Danehill's so you can't afford for anything to happen to him.'

(C) PA Sport