Fallon Says He'll Return for European Season

America-bound jockey Kieren Fallon, who reached the 200-victory mark for the fifth time in eight years this week, insisted that he would not extend his stay in the states into the spring European flat racing season.

Reacting to a story that said he planned to compete at Gulfstream Park through late April and could extend his stay beyond that, the British-based Fallon told Racing Post, "That is just not the case. I've got some great horses to come back to next year, horses like Motivator and Ouija Board, who were very good to me last year, and I'll be riding again for Sir Michael Stoute, if he'll have me. And I'm determined to be champion again.

"But right now I'm looking forward to spending the next few months in Florida, trying to improve my riding and to become the first European rider to break through in the states."

The six-time champion added that he was looking to rebuild his confidence after a difficult 2004 that included an arrest for alleged race fixing. The British Jockey Club announced that it had suspended that investigation.

Fallon plans to arrive in Florida after Christmas. He is booked to begin riding on Jan. 1.

"Europeans have gone to places like Hong Kong and Dubai and made their mark there, but America is different," he said. "It's very difficult to make the breakthrough over there – and how long I stay in the new year will depend largely on how I get on."

Fallon reached the 200-win plateau with a double Monday at Wolverhampton in England.