Fallon finished US stint to 'freshen up'

The need to “freshen up” led to Kieren Fallon cutting short his stint in America.

The former champion jockey was expected to ride at Gulfstream Park, Florida until mid-March but he has returned early as he prepares to regain the title he lost to Frankie Dettori last year.

He told the Daily Mirror: “I need to freshen up. It has been a long year for me. The British season is long, then there is Breeders’ Cups, Japan Cups and Hong Kong.

“It will be another punishing campaign this year. I have been riding every day here, and I want to be at the top of my game.

“It has been a great experience. It started really well. It didn’t finish as well as I’d hoped, and a lot of horses haven’t been responding on the hard ground.

“But I’ve done what I want to do, and I’m looking forward to coming back next year to try and make a go of it.”