Kieren Fallon lands Leger ride on Brown Panther

Brown Panther: Fallon will ride the 10-1 chance in Saturday's St Leger

 

 BY TOM KERR12:33PM 5 SEP 2011 

KIEREN FALLON will ride Brown Panther in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday after trainer Tom Dascombe and owner Michael Owen decided to jock off regular jockey Richard Kingscote.

The ex-champion jockey's experience in the saddle swung the decisionin his favour, although Fallon has not won the St Leger in five attempts at the race - the most recent of which fell in 2004 - and has not won a British Classic since his 2006 victory in the 2,000 Guineas with George Washington. Dascombe said: "It's been a very hard decision but we've gone for a more experienced jock."  Kingscote has partnered Brown Panther, who is 10-1 for the St Leger, on each of his seven career starts, winning four times.

There were no other major surprises within the 11-strong Ladbrokes St Leger line-up revealed at Monday's confirmation stage, when Godolphin pacemaker Rumh was supplemented for the race at cost to connections of £45,000.

The addition of Rumh leaves Godolphin triple handed for the 1m6f race, with second favourite BlueBunting and outsider Genius Beast also due to head to Doncaster.

In updated betting, Ladbrokes have Blue Bunting at 4-1, trailing hot favourite Sea Moon, who is 11-8.

However, Sir Michael Stoute said he fears ground conditions could sink Sea Moon's chances.

"He revelled on the ground at York with nice moisture in the ground and we might meet very different conditions at Doncaster," he said.

"He has got a Leger pedigree and we would be very hopeful that the distance won’t be a problem."

Wonder Of Wonders, 33-1 for the St Leger with Ladbrokes, remains in the race, although trainer Aidan O'Brien said on Sunday the Oaks second was unlikely to run. The Ballydoyle trainer revealed he prefers the Prix de l'Opera for the filly.

Aidan O'Brien on Monday said Wonder Of Wonders and Freedom, his third and final St Leger entry, were only possibles to run.

Namibian, undergoing treatment for colic, left the race along with Apache, Whiplash Willie, Thimaar, Dordogne, Regent Street and Well Sharp.