Kieren Fallon insisted today that he is not turning his back on his riding career in Britain and plans to return in the spring after a spell in the United States.
The six-times champion, who lost his title to Frankie Dettori this season, will jet off to Florida on St Stephen's Day.
He has been booked to ride for trainer Pat Byrne in the Tropical Park Derby at Calder on New Year's Day and plans to ride regularly at Gulfstream Park.
In action at Wolverhampton today, where he completed 200 winners for the year, he said: "I am going out there to improve my riding. There are some great jockeys out there and you can learn a lot from them.
"I will have the best agent in America (Ron Anderson, who also has the legendary Jerry Bailey under his wing) and I am looking forward to it. I want to get the confidence I had before I picked up the 21-day ban at Lingfield (after his controversial short-head defeat on Ballinger Ridge in March).
"It will be a great experience - I learned a lot when I went to California before. No European jockey has gone out there and made it. They have gone to Hong Kong and Dubai, but not to America, but I hope to stay three months."
Asked when he would be back, he added: "I am not turning my back on Britain. I have some very good horses to ride and plan to be back in April - the season doesn't really start until then. I hope to ride for Sir Michael (Stoute, for whom he won the Derby on North Light in June), as long as he will have me.
"Ouija Board and Motivator were very good to me this year and I am looking forward to riding them again, and I am determined to get the jockeys' championship back, too."