Colin Keane a class act but to ditch Kieran Shoemark with his strike rate? That was quite something

The Sun

23-05-2025

FOR the second time in three years Colin Keane appears to have been gifted an Irish Classic – when your luck is in your luck is in.
Keane, of course, rides red-hot favourite Field of Gold in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, live on ITV.
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He takes the ride off Kieran Shoemark, who was dumped by either John & Thady Gosden or Juddmonte or both – no-one seems to know the truth - after suffering a narrow defeat in the Newmarket equivalent.
My Saturday NAP
Wasn't beaten far in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on return from 76 days off and can strip fitter for the run
Three years ago Keane picked up winner Westover for the same owners in the Irish Derby after Rob Hornby was seemingly rejected for his performance on that horse at Epsom.
On paper it was a gimme and that's how it turned out.
I like Keane. He's a six-time champion jockey and has always been charming when I have met him over the years, which was quite a lot in the days when Irish racing was shown on Attheraces.
He's also got a sense of humour and is fun.
Keane has built up a terrific relationship with Ger Lyons, a man who knows a fine rider when he sees one.
And the Meath man has done well for Juddmonte. As well as Westover, Siskin took this race for the Saudi team in 2020 and Babouche scooted up in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.
Irish folk are much more passionate about horse racing than those in the UK, and most won't have a word said against Keane.
I'd agree with them. Keane is a class act.
But it's always interesting to put a few facts in the mix, particularly in a situation like the one with Field of Gold.
Keane rode Juddmonte's Detain, another Gosden animal, in the French 2000 Guineas the other day.
The horse was never placed to challenge before running on well.
Nothing was said by anyone about the ride, and here we are a few days later with the jockey gaining the biggest mount of them all.
If Shoemark had ridden Detain in that way – whether it was a poor ride or not, and I'm not saying it was - the world would have gone mad.
I guess that's just life.
Equally, Ryan Moore can have a moment he'd like to alter and not a mention. That's the esteem he's held in.
In the last five years Keane trades at 13 per cent wins to rides at the Curragh, with 69 successes from 517 mounts.
Moore is at 31 per cent with 92 victories from 299 rides.
Of course, riding for Ballydoyle his statistics should be impressive, but it's a huge difference.
The point is in no way to slate Keane. His talents are clear for all to see and as I have said I'm a fan.
It's just the 'one jockey is rubbish' and 'another jockey is amazing' attitude on social media is rarely backed up with statistics.
Field of Gold, taught to now settle beautifully by Shoemark, would probably have won the 2000 Guineas at HQ on another day.
He will forever wish he had pushed a few strides sooner.
But so might the actual hero Ruling Court and so might Shadow of Light, who got there too soon and finished third.
Nevertheless, it was enough for the Gosdens or Juddmonte or both to sack a man who, in 2024, was trading for the owners at 30 per cent wins to rides.
To throw away someone who is winning for you at that rate is quite something.
Would Moore or Keane have been sacked by Ballydoyle or Lyons if they had handled Field of Gold in similar vein? I suggest not.
I find all these relationships fascinating. It's part of what makes this such an interesting sport.
Shoemark, incidentally, put up one of the rides of the season at Kempton on Wednesday night on roughie Radiant Beauty. No-one seemed to care, but it was pure genius.
I really hope Field of Gold wins. He's a gorgeous, impressive horse. The type we should enjoy all season and possibly in 2026 as well.
Juddmonte make it interesting by running unbeaten Harry Charlton inmate Cosmic Year under the unstoppable Oisin Murphy, while Moore and O'Brien team up with Officer.
Coincidentally, the Bob Baffert-trained Officer was the 4-6 favourite for the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
He was beaten by O'Brien's Johannesburg. Perhaps they just liked the name!
Rock Band Keane sang on their Hopes and Fears album 'Everybody's Changing'.
Not everybody, just the jockey of Field of Gold.
The colt's fans, however, remain loyal, unlike some, to a son of Kingman who should rule this afternoon.
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