American owner Susan “Pearly” Fallon, who lit up the December foal sale at Tattersalls with the purchase of a 700,000g Frankel (GB) filly from Archangel Gabriel (Arch), is looking forward to showing her colors on a British Racecourse to be seen for the first time in Wolverhampton on Friday.
Fallon, who is based in the US and works in the private aviation industry, will be represented by the Ed Bethell-trained A War Eagle (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in an extended mile maiden race with Aidan Keeley.
Like the 700,000gns Frankel filly, A War Eagle was purchased by bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington. He was purchased from Aughamore Stud for €75,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale last year and is part of a growing group of exclusively British or Irish horses for the owner.
Fallon said: “I was a competitive rider growing up, so I've been around horses my whole life. But I’m relatively novel to the racing world – just over a year now. I have always loved racing. Every single one of our horses is based in Ireland and England. The reason is that I love the people there and I also love the style of racing in Europe. I’m also very passionate about the treatment of the horses and overall I really love the experiences I’ve had in the UK and Ireland.”
She added: “We have a War Eagle making his debut on Friday with Ed Bethell and my Sioux Nation stallion 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 will also go to Ed, a Starman (GB) who we haven't decided where he will go yet, and an Australian (GB) colt that will go to Jessica Harrington. There is also a Zoustar colt (Aus) named Caviar Cowboy, going to James Fanshawe. I've gotten to know all of my trainers personally and I can't say enough good things about them all. I feel very lucky to be working with all of them.”
Fallon jokes that she's dealing with “jets in the air and jets on the track.” However, with three broodmares on the farm at Felley Priory Stud, it's sheltered to say that Fallon is patient in her endeavors in the sport.
She explained: “I have been in private aviation for quite a while and I really enjoy it. I have a very entrepreneurial spirit and had a dermatological skin care business for over 15 years. My father flew for fun and I started my pilot's license many years ago, so aviation has been my career path more recently. We work with a lot of engaging people. I love people in general, so it's a perfect fit for me. Racing also has many colorful characters.”
Fallon continued: “I am interested in all aspects of sports. We have three mares and are expecting our first foals in the spring. One of the mares is in foal by Chaldean (GB), who we are very ecstatic about. But from the smell of the tack room to the lights of the track, I love every single aspect of the sport. The mares are based at Felley Priory Stud, where Amanda Skiffington, our bloodstock agent, is also based.”
Speaking to 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 touch with Amanda. It was just a match made in heaven. We had a lot of fun together and she is so talented. She has a true gift and I have already learned so much from her. It was a quick start to the year and we now have about 12 horses.”
A highly successful businesswoman, Fallon has great ambitions for her growing career and has surrounded herself with the best in the business to get ever closer to her dream of one day winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She said: “We are being strategic. I have very substantial goals and want to make sure we do things right. Malcolm Bastard does all of our pre-training and as I said, we have some great coaches working with us. Personally, I love an excursion horse and we are very patient. I know a lot of people like to see action at two o'clock, but we like to wait. A lot of the horses we have purchased are horses that have covered more than a mile and we are willing to wait for them.”
Fallon added: “I'll be forthright, I don't have any specific goals for the horses we have at the moment. With A War Eagle about to make its debut, we'll just see and let him tell us where he fits in. But I have a substantial goal. And a lot of people laugh when I tell them this, but it's my dream to win the Arc. I understand, I would laugh too if someone said it. However, if someone like me can do it, I will. And if I don’t, I’ll die trying.”
