Quinn spoils Fallon`s party

Tiny apprentice Paul Quinn spoilt Kieren Fallon`s party as Royal Cavalier sprang a 50-1 surprise in the last big race of the British Flat season at Doncaster today.

Only 4ft 11ins tall, and weighing in at just 7st, Quinn looked up against it as he was pressed by the ultra-strong champion jockey on 7-1 joint favourite Mesmeric in the final two furlongs of the Tote Scoop6 November Handicap.

But he kept conjuring extra from his mount, who was receiving 19lb from the challenger, and the 3lb claimer punched the air with delight as he passed the post a head in front to end a three-month losing run.

Red Carnation (8-1) finished strongly to take third place, another neck away, with Golden Wells fourth.

'I thought Kieren`s horse was bigger and stronger than mine but mine had no weight and he kept finding a little extra,' said Quinn, 24.

'I thought he had an each-way chance today and I rode him with plenty of confidence.'

Quinn was ending a spell of over 60 rides without a winner - on the day Fallon was crowned champion jockey for the fourth time.

The County Down-born rider spent a year with Jim Bolger before joining Royal Cavalier`s trainer, Reg Hollinshead.

Fallon, however, did get a winner on the day he regained the British jockeys` title by scoring on 7-2 shot Conquestadora in the Pertemps Handicap.

That meant Fallon finished eight winners clear of Darley, who drew a blank on the last turf card until next March`s Lincoln meeting here.

Fallon, from Co. Clare, was officially crowned champion in a ceremony after the fourth race on Town Moor, in which he was presented with a specially-commissioned trophy by Darley himself.

He ended the campaign on 166 winners - compared to his previous winning totals of 202 (1997), 204 (1998) and 202 (1999).

Reflecting on his battle with Darley, Fallon, who was also celebrating his wedding anniversary, said: 'It has been exciting for the public. The three previous years I won I was quite a bit in front but the bit of competition has made it interesting this year.

'It has been a great battle all the way through and when my lead went down from 25 to eight I thought it was going to slip away, Kevin was riding really well.

'It has been a pretty good season. Highlights would be being here today getting this trophy, winning the Guineas on Golan and the Eclipse on Medicean.'

Fallon, who will ride in Japan this winter, will be a freelance next season after the end of his retainer with Sir Michael Stoute.

But he said: 'I am looking forward to next season. There are plenty of trainers I can ride for and I hope I can pick up where I left off.

'When you win something you always want to hold it and let`s hope I am standing here next year.'