Kieren Fallon: Six-time champion jockey planning move to US
- Published
Fallon said he considered retiring last winter
Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon says he wants to ride full-time in the United States.
The 49-year-old is planning a winter move to California in an effort to revive his fortunes, despite winning the 2,000 Guineas in May.
"If I had a chance of staying, I probably would," he said.
"California is a beautiful place and I've always wanted to stay there but there was always something for me here to come back to."
Top female jockey Hayley Turner on Fallon move |
|---|
"Kieren is very ambitious. He's always pushing himself to do something. He's fit and healthy and it doesn't show in his riding that he's 49" |
Fallon said he had considered retiring last winter and that he "didn't want to be making up the numbers" but wins in Dubai and the Guineas preceded a role with Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
"I'd like to go back to California, which I intend doing in the next couple of weeks, just to try to get the buzz back again because things haven't happened for me in the second half of this season," he told the British Champions Series., external
The Irishman won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on 40-1 shot Night Of Thunder as he enjoyed a renaissance at the start of the 2014 flat racing season.
He was drafted in to ride for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, but has found winners harder to come by in recent weeks.
Of riding in the US, he told At The Races: "I just want to go out there and sharpen up and pick my game up again. It slackened off towards the second half of the season.
Kieren Fallon |
|---|
Born: 22 Feb 1965, Crusheen, Co Clare - one of six children |
Champion jockey: Six times (1997-1999, 2001-2003) |
British Classic wins: 16 |
"When I go there, I will feel better and it will help me. I've got one or two stables that say they will look after me."
Asked if it could be a permanent arrangement, the Newmarket-based rider said: "I would like that.
"I don't think I will be competitive enough but I will try. That would be good."
Fallon is considered one of the greatest riders of his generation and during his career has been stable jockey to top trainers such as Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil and Aidan O'Brien.
He has won the Derby at Epsom three times,, external but has also been a controversial figure - serving two drugs bans and being cleared after a race-fixing inquiry.
- Published3 May 2014
- Published4 May 2014
- Published4 June 2011
- Published21 December 2018
