Oxted’s Darley July Cup win was Ed Chamberlin’s favourite moment since racing resumed last month.
The 12/1 chance was providing Cieren Fallon and Roger Teal with their first Group One successes and the ITV Racing presenter felt it all made for a refreshing change.
Speaking on the Sporting Life Racing Podcast he said: “It was just fantastic, the best feeling I’ve had at a course since resumption. The place was almost buzzing without anyone being there if that makes sense.
“No offence to the powerhouses who’ve been winning big races but it was so healthy and so good to have that horse triumphing. Don’t forget the owners but while Cieren Fallon was the racing story, for us on ITV the Teal family triumphing was fantastic.
“Harry Teal was watching the race right behind us on the big screen which was just over my right shoulder and I’ve never heard emotion like it during a race.
“We couldn’t play it back because the language turned a little blue at times but he was screaming “go on Fenton!” and I was looking down my list thinking who’s Fenton? His mum Sue, who is a massive part of the Teal operation, was on hand to tell us the reason behind the name - relating to the famous viral video of the dog – then we got the picture of Roger sort of running up the rail to finish sixth in the July Cup himself. It was wonderful.
“The turn of pace Harry showed across the paddock to go and greet the horse was phenomenal, he’d win a Nunthorpe. After a few weeks of the big guns dominating the big races it was just really, really enjoyable to be there and see a smaller operation have their big moment in the sun.”
For Lysaght it provided further evidence of why Fallon is so quickly climbing through the riding ranks.
“There was a real sense that Cieren Fallon came of age on Saturday. I think we’ll reflect on this July Cup in the same way we did with Oisin Murphy when he rode four winners on Ayr Gold Cup day in 2014. It was the moment he left the 'promising jockey' category.
“I remember his dad Kieren telling me in an interview a couple of years ago ‘he has got many of my good points and very few of my bad ones'.
“It’s great that senior is prepared to take the mickey out of himself and help guide his son. With Fallon, Murphy and Tom Marquand to enjoy we could be looking at a golden generation of Flat jockeys.”
For Lysaght too it was a welcome change to see a smaller operation snare one of the sport's biggest prizes.
“Of course everyone admires the battalions produced by Ballydoyle, John Gosden, William Haggas and all the great trainers but when someone like the Teal family can do this, well it’s magnificent.
“Can you compare it to other sports? They haven’t quite reached the Leicester City type heights in the Premier League yet but it’s when it’s not the usual suspects dominating it’s great.
“ITV’s news agenda would have been the same as mine when I worked on the BBC. Of course you want to talk about John Gosden, Frankie Dettori, Aidan O’Brien and those guys but it is fantastic to be able to tell a story that was good on so many different levels.
“I love a horse with a name too. Oxted is a town in Surrey, which until Saturday in sporting circles was probably best known for the charity pram race that happens there every year. That’s changed now.”
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