Was like riding my first winner again

USA: Kieren Fallon, who flew to the States this month in search of the "buzz" that he said was missing in Britain this year, rediscovered it on Wednesday when he rode a surprise winner at Santa Anita.

The former champion jockey, who won the 2,000 Guineas on Night Of Thunder in May, began the latest chapter of his extraordinary career unexpectedly well when he steered 46-1 shot Notorious to an upset win in a maiden special weight race.

Fallon made the most of an opportunity to ride for leading California trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who saddles favourite Shared Belief in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, by guiding his two-year-old mount - his only ride of the day - to a five-and-a-quarter length success. Frankie Dettori finished fifth in the race.

"That was like having your first win as an apprentice all over again," said Fallon, who arrived in the United States on Sunday.

"I had got stale at home, not going in as part of a team in the mornings. It's like a footballer not being able to practice but this has always been the best place in the world to have a winner. Lynda and Jack Ramsden sent me out here to work with Rodney Rash when I was very young and I rode for Bobby Frankel as well.

"This is the first time I have come out here with a visa. It's tough when there are a lot of top jockeys out here but the older guys like Mike Smith and Gary Stevens have been showing how it's done and I hope I can do that too. It's a great chance for me and I know I have got to take it."

Fallon has no Breeders' Cup rides but is in action on the undercard on both days. He rides Godolphin's Yard Line for Eoin Harty in the Grade 3 Twilight Derby on Friday and Faithful Creek for Brian Meehan in the opening race on Saturday.


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