Kieren Fallon - file

london (reuters)

A top Australian racing expert criticised the riding of Britai n's six times champion jockey Kieren Fallon at a race-fixing trial yesterday.

"It was quite an extraordinary ride," New South Wales stipendiary steward Ray Murrihy told the jury watching a video of a race at the Lingfield track where Fallon lost an eight-length lead on Ballinger Ridge and was pipped at the post.

"He does not react immediately and never rides with a great deal of vigour. It certainly is a race that cried out for questions to be asked because of the performance of the rider at any level of racing," Murrihy said.

Britain's Horse Racing Authority had been tipped off that a "suspicious" 60,000 pounds ($123,400) bet had been placed on Ballinger Ridge to lose, the jury was told.

Murrihy said he had no doubt that if Irishman Fallon had ridden the horse in a normal fashion, Ballinger Ridge would have won the race.

"He lost because the rider slowed the horse up. By easing the horse up, he let the other horse get to him," Murrihy said.

Murrihy, who has 37 years' experience monitoring races, is the main prosecution witness called to give evidence against Fallon and five others accused of race -fixing.

The prosecution alleges that Fallon and two other jockeys were involved in agreeing to cheat in 27 races and make their mounts lose. They all deny the charges.

The jury has been told that the horses did not always lose but when the jockeys allegedly obliged, then a syndicate run by businessman Miles Rodgers was able to make hefty profits.

Rodgers, prosecutors allege, had to lay huge sums of money to win relatively small amounts - but he could so safe in the knowledge that the horse would lose.

The trial continues.