Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon has announced his retirement.
The 51-year-old Irishman, who rode 30 winners at Royal Ascot, has opted to step away from the sport in order to tackle "severe depression".
Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick spoke on Fallon's behalf on Monday to confirm the news.
"Kieren is suffering from severe depression," the Racing Post quotes McGoldrick as saying. "When he came to me before getting his licence to ride this year it was clear he was suffering from depression and I treated him with anti-depressants.
"He told me that he hadn't intended to make a comeback but decided to do so having been encouraged by [trainer] Michael [O'Callaghan]. But he rang me last week and said his situation had got worse. I met him and on Sunday he told me he didn't feel strong enough to speak to anyone in the media about his situation and asked me to speak on his behalf.
"He told me that he has lost the motivation to continue his riding career and wanted people to know about his decision to retire. He said it was time to move on once his depression has been managed. In recent years he found himself suffering from profound fatigue but nothing physically wrong was found when doctors examined him."
In his career, Fallon won the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe twice, the Breeders' Cup on two occasions, as well as riding 16 British Classic winners and six Irish Classic winners.
Danielle Joynson
