Swinburn steps in for sick Fallon

His stable jockey, Kieren Fallon, is sick, but Sir Michael Stoute's horses are well enough judged on yesterday's evidence at Windsor, where the trainer's first two runners of the British season were both winners.

The three-year-olds Cover Up and Secret Agent were successful in the maiden and classified stakes respectively. The former was ridden by Stoute's former stable jockey Walter Swinburn, wearing the colours of Lord Weinstock. In the continued absence of Fallon, who is due back at Brighton on Thursday, Swinburn will today ride for another owner who was an integral part of the jockey's glory days at Freemason Lodge, when the Aga Khan's Adawar runs in a maiden race at Pontefract at 3.15.

Swinburn's success yesterday was the fourth since his return. Richard Quinn was also back in the swing, registering a Windsor double, on Threezedzz in the 2yo maiden auction and Polish Spirit in the concluding handicap. Threezedzz made it two juvenile winners in 2000 from as many runners for Jonathan Portman, a trainer better known under NH rules.

The Australian jockey Greg Hall yesterday made his first appearance on a British racecourse. Winner of the Melbourne Cup in 1992, he was out of luck in a 6f handicap at Windsor.