By Brian Sheerin
American owner Susan 'Pearly' Fallon, who lit up the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a 700,000gns purchase of a Frankel (GB) filly out of Archangel Gabriel (Arch), is looking forward to seeing her colours graced on a British racecourse for the first time at Wolverhampton on Friday.
Fallon, who is based in America and works in the private aviation business, will be represented by the Ed Bethell-trained A War Eagle (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in an extended mile maiden with Aidan Keeley set to ride.
Just like the 700,000gns Frankel filly, A War Eagle was purchased by bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington. He was sourced at last year's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for €75,000 from Aughamore Stud and he forms part of a growing squad of exclusively British- or Irish-based horses for the owner.
Fallon said, “I was a competitive equestrian growing up so I have been involved with horses all of my life. But I am relatively new to the racing world–a little over a year now. I've always loved racing. Every single one of our horses are based in Ireland and England. The reason for that is because I love the people over there and I love the style of racing in Europe as well. I also feel very strongly about the treatment of the horses and, as a whole, I really love the experiences I have had in Britain and Ireland.”
She added, “We have A War Eagle making his debut on Friday with Ed Bethell and my Sioux Nation colt went to William Haggas on Tuesday. His name is King's English and I am absolutely in love with him. I have a Time Test (GB) filly that is also going to Ed, a Starman (GB), who we haven't decided where she will go, and an Australia (GB) colt who goes to Jessica Harrington. There is also a Zoustar (Aus) colt, whose name is Caviar Cowboy, and he will go to James Fanshawe. I have gotten to know all of my trainers personally and I cannot say enough nice things about them all. I feel very fortunate to be working with them all.”
Fallon jokes that she's dealing with “jets in the air and jets on the racetrack.” However, with three broodmares on the farm at Felley Priory Stud, it's safe to say Fallon is adopting a patient approach to her endeavours in the sport.
She explained, “I have been in private aviation for quite a while and I enjoy that very much. I have a very entrepreneurial spirit and had a dermatological skin care company for over 15 years. My father flew for fun and I started my pilot's licence years and years ago so aviation has been my career path more recently in life. We work with a lot of interesting people. I love people in general so it is a perfect fit for me. Racing has lots of colourful characters as well.”
Fallon continued, “I'm interested in all aspects of the sport. We have three mares and are expecting our first foals in the spring. One of the mares is in foal to Chaldean (GB), who we are very excited about. But from the smell of the tack room to the lights of the race track, I love every single aspect of the sport. The mares are based at Felley Priory Stud, which is where Amanda Skiffington, who is our bloodstock agent, is based.”
On linking up with Skiffington, she added, “Nicholas Varney is a long-time friend. Amanda had purchased A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) for Nicholas, so he decided to put me in connection with Amanda. It's just been a match made in heaven. We've had a lot of fun together and she is so talented. She has a true gift and I have learned so much from her already. It's been a quick year of getting started and we have about 12 horses now.”
A hugely successful businesswoman, Fallon has some lofty ambitions for her growing string and has surrounded herself with the best in the business in order to inch herself ever closer to her dream of one day winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She said, “We're being strategic. I have very big goals and I want to make sure we are doing things the right way. Malcolm Bastard does all of our pre-training and, as I said, we have some brilliant trainers working with us. Personally, I love a trip horse and we are very patient. I know that a lot of people love to see action at two but we are happy to wait. A lot of the horses we bought are mile-plus horses and we're prepared to wait for them.”
Fallon added, “I'm going to be honest, I don't have any specific goals for the horses that we have at the moment. With A War Eagle, who is just about to make his first start, we will just see and let him tell us where he fits in. But I do have a big goal. And a lot of people laugh when I tell them this, but it is my dream to win the Arc. I get it, I would laugh, too, if somebody said it. However, if it can be done by somebody like me, I will do it. And if I don't, I will die trying.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
