Champion jockey lands stellar Royal Ascot rides after securing top job
Colin Keane, Ireland's six-time title winner, has been appointed by powerful Juddmonte operation as its retained rider with immediate effect
Irish champion jockey Colin Keane can look forward to a stellar Royal Ascot after securing one of the top jobs in racing. Keane has won six titles in Ireland through an enduring association with trainer Ger Lyons.
Together they have enjoyed multiple Group 1 wins including in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and at the Breeders' Cup, which have helped put Keane in the frame for the winning mounts on Tarnawa in the Breeders' Cup Turf, Westover in the Irish Derby and Field Of Gold in this year's Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Keane picked up the ride at the Curragh after Kieran Shoemark was sacked from the John & Thady Gosden-trained horse following a narrow defeat in the 2,000 Guineas. Shoemark had been riding the majority of the Gosden stable horses since Frankie Dettori quit Britain.
Applying a 'best available' policy Oisin Murphy was aboard Lead Artist when he captured the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Now all Juddmonte's top rides in Britain, Ireland and France will go to the 30-year-old Keane who becomes the operation's first retained rider since James Doyle.
At Royal Ascot Lead Artist is set to line up in the Queen Anne Stakes, Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace while Babouche, trained by Lyons, is set to contest the Commonwealth Cup.
Juddmonte's chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: 'In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world.
'We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte.
'He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte's values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team.'
Juddmonte have owned some of the biggest names in the sport, notably the great Frankel, and more recently superstar filly Enable.
Keane said: 'I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it's very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte.
'I'm excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.'
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