15/04/2026
Vale FALVELON stable name "Rocket"
In honour of his recent passing I would like to take a moment to reflect on the best horse I have ever had the pleasure to train FALVELON.
As a young trainer with only a small team of horses, to prepare a horse to race nationally in group races and to fly the flag for Australian Racing internationally, was a dream come true. To have an entire compete at the elite level from 2yo right through to retirement at 7yo is something special and almost unheard of in modern Thoroughbred racing.
Falvelon was bred by Brian Falvey, Arnie Kelly and Brian Daunt. Sadly Brian Falvely passed away before Falvelon was even a yearling so he never got see his Champion c**t run. Brian's wife Dawn took over his share and he was named in his honour. The breeders invited a group of mates who socialised together at the Prince of Wales Hotel at Nundah to join the ownership. Brian Daunt's sister lived next door to my parents Doug and June so it was suggested that I should train their c**t.
My first impression of Falvelon was that he was on the smaller side, muscular and had correct confirmation. Amusingly, another horse arrived at my stables on the same day and even Falvelon's owners were in awe of the sleek 'movie star' racehorse compared to their 'pony'. Even my track riders clambered to ride the movie star and I was left to ride Falvelon myself. As fate would have it the 'movie star' racehorse had limited ability and the little 'fat pony' earned the nickname 'Rocket'.
Falvelon was sensible and quiet to ride but like all good sprinters he had a lot of fast twitch muscle. If you didn't pay attention riding him he could leave you in his dust. He showed ability from his first gallop but after his first barrier trial I told my mother "I think I have my Champion". She had only heard these words once before when my father and I shared our opinion on Strawberry Road.
Falvelon's first start didn't exactly go to plan. He reared up in the stalls put his front legs over the barrier gates and as a result was last out. Jockey Jimmy Burn was aboard and after the bungled start he was further inconvenienced when he lost his stirrup iron going over the crossing. Such was Falvelon's talent that he still managed to circle the field to win the listed Meynink Stakes by a length.
Falvelon went on to win his first seven starts including the Group 3 Chivas Regal. In December of 2000, Falvelon was invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to race in the inaugural Hong Kong Sprint over 1000m.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver had placed on him in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket then won the Schillaci and Schweppes so he was booked to ride him in Hong Kong.
After the Schweppes, Falvelon was given his innoculations for travel to Hong Kong and as a consequence he raced flat underperforming in the Salinger. He was already a seasoned traveller from all his flights from Brisbane to Melbourne so thankfully he bounced back quickly and travelled exceptionally well over to Hong Kong.
On arrival in Hong Kong we were very hopeful and thought Falvelon had a very good chance but he was definately the underdog compared to the American c**t, Morluc. However our confidence grew as Damien Oliver was estatic and could barely contain his excitement following his final pre-race gallop.
When he won, his Aussie connections were filled with pride as we all stood on the podium for the presentations with the Australian National Anthem playing.
The following year after winning the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and placings in the Manikato, Schillaci and Emirates Falvelon again travelled to Hong Kong.
The trainer of the American horse Morluc whom Falvelon had beaten by 0.2L the previous year confidently announced with his Texan bravado "we will beat you this year, it was a bad ride last year". Again Falvelon was victorious this time by an increased margin but to their credit the American's were gracious in defeat.
The third year after winning his second Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and placings in the Stradbroke, Schillaci and Emirates Falvelon was galant in defeat running third. The race had started out as a Group 3 then progressed up a grade each year to be Group 1 at his third attempt.
What made Falvelon great was his speed, attitude, soundness and clean wind. He was raised in a big paddock with terrain so rough you could only access it via four wheel drive. He was as tough as hell, sensible and honest.
After 25 years Falvelon remains the only Australian trained horse to have won the Prestigious Hong Kong Sprint. Which is an outstanding fact given that arguably we produce the best sprinters in the world.
Many of the races he contested in Australia were upgraded to Group 1 status after his success in Hong Kong. He held the race record for the fastest time in the Doomben 10,000 and remains the only entire to have won the race twice.
Falvelon was awarded Australian Champion Sprinter twice and Queensland Horse of the Year four times. He was inducted into the Queensland Hall of Fame in 2014. He has a race baring his name and the Falvelon Bar in the members at Doomben racecourse is named in his honour.
Falvelon was a Champion by all measurements. He competed at the highest level, conquered the best sprinters in the world and won Group races every year until he retired to stud at Glenlogan Park in Queensland as a seven year old.
As a sire he produced 418 foals with an enviable 70% winners-to-runners strike rate including 35 stakes performers.
The owners and staff at Glenlogan Park Stud did a great job taking such good care of him and he was humanely euthanised at the ripe old age of 29 years.
On a personal level I will always be grateful to be associated with such a talented racehorse. He gave me some of my most enjoyable moments in racing and I am always pleased when people share their thoughts and memories of Falvelon.
Rest in Peace Rocket
(Photo courtesy of Stevenson)
