Fallon: Fortune the man for Stoute job
Fallon quit the position last month to become the retained rider at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard and the Newmarket handler has yet to announce who will take over.
However, Fallon believes that Fortune, who is currently attached to John Gosden’s yard, would be a good choice to take over at Freemason Lodge.
“I’ve always said that Jimmy Fortune is one of the top jockeys in the game. He’s dedicated and very hard to beat and you couldn’t really look any further than Jimmy for me, but of course, it’s not my choice,” he told At The Races.
“I’ll miss the job as there are so many nice horses there at the moment that it’s hard to leave them behind, but you’ve got to think of the future.”
Fallon may still team up with Stoute this season as the leading Ballydoyle players John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith all have horses with him.
The former champion jockey explained: “I know the owners that have retained me have some horses there, but it’s going to be Sir Michael’s choice.
“He’s got some really nice horses. The ones you would particularly miss would be North Light and Quiff. They would be serious horses not only in Europe, but worldwide.
“What can you do? It was the choice I made and I hope it’s the right one.”
Although Fallon will miss his link with Stoute’s yard, he has a huge array of talent at his disposal this year.
Neither Powerscourt, who lost the Arlington Million in the stewards’ room, nor mercurial performer Antonius Pius enjoyed much luck last season, but Fallon is hoping they can show their best this year.
“Powerscourt is a very good horse. He was unfortunate not keep the race in America when he won the Arlington Million. If you get on the right side of Antonius Pius, he’s a good horse on his day,” he said.
Fallon also has the mount on Damson in the UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas to look forward to.
The daughter of Entrepreneur was beaten only once in five starts last season and Fallon went to see the filly at David Wachman’s yard this morning.
“She hasn’t been doing much, she’s just in light work and keeping ticking over. She’s going the right way,” he added.
The Irish Flat season kicks off later this month and Fallon is due to start work with O’Brien soon, but he is planning to keep his hand in with some all-weather rides in the meantime.
He would like to be a regular visitor to Britain this year and he hopes the Ballydoyle yard can return to the sort of glory days that saw them farming the big races with the likes of High Chaparral, Rock Of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing.
“Hopefully the owners I ride for will have the horses competitive enough to go over,” he went on.
“A couple of years ago, when things were flying at Ballydoyle, Mick Kinane would come over with a team of really nice horses and clean up.
“Hopefully we can get back into those sort of years and go well.
“Obviously if they haven’t got the horses I will be staying in Ireland. If they’re good enough to go to Europe with, and particularly England, then that would be fantastic.”
Fallon enjoyed huge success with the Ed Dunlop-trained Ouija Board last season, winning the English and Irish Oaks as well as a Breeders’ Cup race, and the jockey hopes to preserve that link.
“I don’t know if Aidan’s going to have anything that would be in the same races as Ouija Board’s going to run in, but she’s probably one of the best fillies in the world and I would really like to get back on her again if I could.”
Fallon had been due to ride in America until the end of this month, but his change in job saw him quit and return home early.
Although he enjoyed some success at Gulfstream Park, Fallon is not sure whether he will return next year. “At the moment, I’m not too pushed. If I had a great season this year then I would take a longer holiday,” he added.
