From a sulky sit-in protest to Epsom glory: the story of Allegiant

September was an eventful month for the Tom Morley-owned Allegiant. He was entered in the horses-in-training sale, conducted possibly the first ever equine sit-in protest when due to race at Kempton, and then won at Epsom.

It was a victory that, if followed up again under a penalty in the next fortnight, could earn the three-year-old a reprieve from being sold as Morley believes the best days are in front of a big, backward baby of a horse he affectionately describes as having character.

Explaining the Kempton incident, during which Allegiant dropped to his front knees and refused to approach the starting gates until he was dismounted and had the saddle removed, Morley said on Monday: "I was watching on television and thinking, 'What on earth is he up to', but clearly he was just taking the proverbial because he was on the gallops the next morning and there was nothing wrong with him, he was just being a silly little baby.