Experience secures Brown Panther St Leger ride for Fallon

Kieren Fallon is to gain the chance to secure victory in the only English Classic still missing from his resume as he will take the ride on board Brown Panther for the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Richard Kingscote has ridden the horse in all of his seven career starts to date, including when Brown Panther triumphed in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

However, there have been some criticisms labelled at the jockey following Brown Panther’s last two runs, when failing to make all on heavy ground in Germany and then when chasing home St Leger rival Census last month at Newbury.

These concerns may be part of the reason why Brown Panther’s owner Manchester United striker Michael Owen has decided on a jockey change this Saturday at Doncaster.

Owen has convinced trainer Tom Dascombe to hand Fallon the reins, who has ridden numerous Classic winners in the past, including three Derby successes.

However, the St Leger has not been the kindest to Fallon in the past as he has yet to enjoy glory in five rides, with his best result coming back in 1989 when finishing second on board Sapience.

Dascombe said: “Richard has always done a very, very good job for me but I just felt on this occasion that perhaps you don’t get too many chances to win a Classic and that’s the decision that’s been made.”

Brown Panther is 10/1 in the St Leger odds to take victory and much will depend on how much stamina Fallon can store in reserve.

It could be argued that Brown Panther ran out of stamina last time out in the Group Three CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes and the St Leger is run over a trip that is 1f longer.

Therefore, it may be difficult to reverse form with Census and the best that both Fallon and Brown Panther can hope for is a share of the each-way prize money.