Stoute split was hard for Fallon

Kieren Fallon on board Kris Kin after their 2003 Derby win

Kieren Fallon says it was a massive wrench to end his association with top trainer Sir Michael Stoute to become the retained jockey at Ballydoyle.

Fallon stunned racing this week when he left what is widely considered to be one of the top jobs around to join Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's yard.

Although the 40-year-old Irishman was thrilled to have landed the Ballydoyle post, he dreaded having to break the news to Stoute on Friday afternoon.

"The hardest part was ringing Stoutey. He knew what was coming and told me he would have appreciated knowing far sooner," Fallon told The Sunday Times.

"I didn't call because I wasn't sure what I was going to do. But overall he was really good about it.

He (Stoute) said we'd been a great team, which is true, and a very lucky team, which is also true Kieren Fallon

"He said we'd been a great team, which is true, and a very lucky team, which is also true. He wished me the best for the future."

Fallon became Stoute's stable jockey in 1999 and the duo enjoyed huge success, landing the Vodafone Derby in both 2003 and 2004 with Kris Kin and North Light.

They also teamed up for numerous other big race wins.

"Stoutey is a brilliant trainer and we had so much success together: King's Best and Golan in the Guineas, Kris Kin and North Light in the Derby and those brilliant fillies, Islington and Russian Rhythm," said Fallon.

O'Brien endured a poor season by his standards last year with just three Group One wins.

But Fallon was reportedly offered a three-year deal worth four times what he was on to take over from Jamie Spencer, who quit earlier this month after one season at Ballydoyle.

I have always admired his (Aidan's) dedication and his talent for training horses Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon profile Sir Michael Stoute profile

And Fallon is upbeat about the stable's chances this year after speaking to O'Brien on the phone from Barbados, where he travelled to on Tuesday to meet Coolmore owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

"For me it was important to speak with Aidan," he said.

"I have always admired his dedication and his talent for training horses.

"He is particularly enthusiastic about his current two-year-olds and I believe we're going to have a good year."

Fallon and his family are now expected to relocate to Ireland in the spring.

He added: "John, Michael and Derrick left it up to me about where I wanted to be based - but I believe that to do the job at Ballydoyle as well as I want to do it, that means being around the place a lot and knowing the horses intimately."

Aidan O'Brien profile

Fallon, who has spent the winter riding in Florida, remains on bail until April as City Of London Police continue a widespread investigation in Britain into alleged race-fixing.

The six-time champion has not been charged with any offence and is one of 26 people on bail, including four other jockeys.

Meanwhile, Stoute has told the Racing Post he will not be making any snap decisions about who can replace Fallon.

"I only found out about it myself on Friday and a replacement is not the sort of decision to make overnight," said Stoute.

Johnny Murtagh, who had been linked with Ballydoyle, is now an early favourite for the Stoute job.