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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Four-way battle for jockeys' championship is a major opportunity to sell the sport
Sometimes good fortune falls in your lap, and Horse Racing Ireland has been gifted a promotional boon it can hang a fascinating story around much of the rest of this flat season. Racing is fundamentally about horses, but little grabs the public imagination more than a head-to-head battle for a jockey's title and circumstances have conspired to supply such a scenario in spades. Right now, there are four riders entitled to fancy their chances of being crowned Ireland's champion flat jockey when the season ends in November. Much of that is due to Colin Keane's own good fortune in being appointed to one of the most coveted positions in European racing. Being number one rider to Juddmonte means Ireland's reigning six-time champion is going to be on his travels. The upside is a chance to compete for the greatest prizes in Europe. The downside is he can't take care of business at home so much. Another snag is the risk of picking up suspensions such as the 14 days he will have to serve out later this month for breaking British whip rules. READ MORE That briefly made Billy Lee favourite to be crowned champion for the first time this season. Runner up to Keane for the last three years, including beaten by just three winners (92-89) in 2022, Lee looked to be in pole position to take advantage of his rival's absences. Billy Lee is facing at least four weeks out after breaking his collarbone. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Except last Saturday at Limerick, he broke his collarbone in a fall. He's facing at least four weeks out. So, suddenly, both Chris Hayes and Dylan Browne McMonagle find themselves licking their lips at the thought of a title challenge too. It used to be that nobody talked of the jockeys' championship until Listowel in September. Often it was because the outcome was a foregone conclusion, or those in the hunt didn't want any fuss. But for those charged with 'morkoting' the sport this is a godsend. Nothing weaves a narrative through a lengthy time frame quite like a title race. The most famous of all remains the epic duel between Ireland's Pat Eddery and American Steve Cauthen to be crowned Britain's champion jockey in 1987. When the cross-channel season went from March to Doncaster in November, it was a thread of continuity through much of the campaign. 'I remember that at the beginning of the season we both decided we wanted to win it,' Cauthen recalled. 'From mid-season there was never more than half a dozen in it, and it went right to Doncaster on the last day.' Both men went everywhere, to Scottish outposts like Hamilton and Musselburgh, in pursuit of a winner. The struggle was a media dream, supplying drama to even the most mundane midweek fixture in the middle of nowhere. Pat Eddery had an epic battle for the jockey's championship with Steve Cauthen in 1987. Photograph:It did no harm that the laconic Irishman and the smooth 'Kentucky Kid' were two of the finest jockeys ever to ride a horse. By the end it was 197-195 for Cauthen. It was so taxing he vowed never to try again. Eddery won for the following four years. In 2007 a British title race again went down to the last day, where Jamie Spencer and Seb Sanders eventually shared the title on 190 winners each. Just three years after that Paul Hanagan edged out Richard Hughes by two on the final day. Teeing up this kind of clash for publicity wasn't such a priority in Ireland. In 2002, Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh went into the final day tied for the title on 76 winners each. Kinane eventually won a titanic battle that in broader sporting terms almost slipped under the radar. Things got better for when just two winners separated Jack Kennedy and Paul Townend at the end of a tussle for the 2024 jump jockey's championship. The victorious Kerry man admitted afterwards the whole thing had been nerve-racking. Such tussles can be as tense as they are all-consuming for those involved. But they are fascinating for viewers, even casual fans who can engage with the elementary day-to-day fluctuations of such a competition. It makes the prospect of four riders with distinct personalities and profiles trying might and main to win an even better opportunity to sell the sport. Keane is the star turn. No one could begrudge Lee a title having got so close before. Browne McMonagle is the young buck, just 22 and full of potential. Then there's Hayes, a notably fluent individual which is always helpful to those charged with selling the sport. There are more than enough storylines within such a scenario to have HRI's promotional platforms whirring for weeks to come, pushing a straightforward narrative through a quartet of elite sportspeople striving to come out on top. As for who wins, bookmakers reckon Hayes is the outsider of four. But considering he's able to do light weights – getting as low as 8.6 in the last year – that could look generous come November 2nd. Whatever the outcome it will be a test for all concerned, including those tasked with getting the message out. Something for the Weekend Rashabar (1.50) has been mixing it at the top level over a mile without success and is upped to 10 furlongs for tomorrow's Listed opener at Newbury. A convincing argument can be made on pedigree for him relishing it. If conditions don't get too soft the sole three-year-old in the line up could simply be too good for this opposition. Minnie Hauk is the Curragh's star Irish Oaks attraction but her juvenile stable companion Extravagant (4.50) looks more of a betting proposition in a Nursery. He is dropped back to six furlongs from his last start and connections look to fancy the 83-mark assigned to him.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes
A globe-trotting filly, trained by Gavin Cromwell, Snellen proved a shock winner of the Group 3 BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, pipping odds-on favourite Purview. Ridden by Shane Foley, deputising for the suspended Gary Carroll, the 16-1 shot came from last to first, challenging down the outside to lead at the furlong pole and dug deep to see off Colin Keane's mount by a short-head, with a three lengths back to long-time leader Galen. Tight for room early in the straight, Purview squeezed through and had every chance through the final furlong. He stayed on but was narrowly denied. 'She had a really good run in Ascot and is a solid filly,' said winning rider Foley. 'The race worked out lovely, in a small field. I was able to take my time, which is perfect on her. She picked-up better than I expected off the turn and, when it mattered, she found plenty. 'It was a very nice spare to pick up, but I'm sure Gary will be back on her the next day.' The Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen Of Hawaii built on a promising debut run at the Curragh to take the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in convincing fashion from front-runner Minerva. Dylan Browne McMonagle delivered his challenge turning for home and, in command before the furlong-pole, the Kingman filly stretched away to triumph by two and a half lengths. 'She had a lovely run in a strong maiden and came forward from it," said O'Brien. 'She appreciated stepping up to a mile and you'd have to be impressed by the way she won. 'If she's to keep to a mile we'll have to wait. But she's in the Silver Flash here next week and the Debutante and they're options if we decide to drop back to seven furlongs.' Fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, Fairy Oak, ridden by Colin Keane, who completed a double on Noel Meade's newcomer Heiselectric in the 10-furlong maiden, made all to justify 10-11 favouritism in the opening two-year-old maiden, outpointing promising newcomers Yellowstone Lake and Morehampton. 'She was entitled to win her maiden,' stated trainer Michael O'Callaghan. 'Colin felt she had sharpened up from Ascot and that she'd prefer faster ground. She'll step back up in class — she's in the Lowther and has a few other big entries. She's a real two-year-old, very straight-forward and a real trier.' Similar front-running tactics paid off for Chris Hayes on board 33-1 shot Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, Bill Durkan's charge holding on by almost two lengths from Joltin, despite jinking right close to the line. 'He's been working well with Parkside Lad and the barrier-trial he was going to was cancelled, so we had no option but to come here,' explained Durkan's assistant Gary Gannon. 'He's a nice horse, from a nice family, and open to plenty of improvement. And he's for sale.' And 11/4 favourite Tatum brought up doubles for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes when staying on dourly to foil Louiescall, narrowly, in the Champions Festival Handicap.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
O'Brien back in winner's enclosure as impressive Spanish Temptress gets career off the mark
Ballingarry trainer Richard O'Brien earned a welcome return to the winner's enclosure when the promising Spanish Temptress got off the mark for her career with victory in the Irish Examiner Handicap, the third race on Tuesday night's card in Killarney. The lightly raced three-year-old sat in a great position as the leaders went off very quickly, and when Colin Keane asked her to make her move, the grey's response was impressive. 'The worry I had was that, she didn't look, on Saturday (when runner-up at Limerick), that she needed more of a test, and I thought this was going to be more of a test, so I was a bit dubious,' admitted O'Brien. 'I actually said to the boys this morning that I didn't think we should run on that ground, that she was well enough handicapped that we didn't have to be so opportunistic, but they said, 'no, forget about it, we're running'. 'The owners are a fantastic bunch of guys. They went to the sales with Ross Doyle and picked this filly out. They're like a focus group that HRI should look at. They are absolutely die-hard racing fans: they go to the sales; they go to Chester, Galway, Guineas, Derby; they go on the Stallion Trail. 'It's fantastic to have a winner for them. They are the backbone of what we should be focusing on. They'll be high about this for weeks, and she's a candidate to go to Galway.' The evergreen Lord Erskine is clearly still enjoying the racing life as much as ever and, testament to the training of Harry Rogers, he won for the thirteenth time when taking the Executive Helicopters Handicap under a shrewd ride by Ronan Whelan. 'He's a dream,' said Rogers. 'He just eats, sleeps, and does his work. 'We had a plan going out that, if they didn't go much of a pace, to go on down the back, and Ronan did. He's a right horse on his day. He's a gent – there's no badness in him. He's just a dream horse. He was like his (late) owner, Jerry Nolan.' Looking ahead, he added: 'He might go to Galway. He might end up in the amateur race, but he has a few choices. He's in the Galway Hurdle too, if we get slow ground.' The evening's most valuable race was the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Handicap and Elana Osario showed a willing attitude to come out best in a three-way finish. Ridden by Colin Keane for trainer Paddy Twomey and owner Robert Moran, the top weight was never far off the pace, which was quite sedate, and while she looked in trouble for half of the straight, she put her best foot forward where it mattered most to claim victory at the expense of Annie's Angel and Shaool. Donnacha O'Brien, who was on the mark here on Monday, added a second when Shania justified odds-on favouritism in the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Maiden. Off the track since being touched off in a maiden at this meeting in 2024, the imposing filly was made to work hard for this victory, but the winning trainer felt the lack of a recent run was the greatest contributory factor in that. 'She ran here last year on very quick ground and didn't come out of it very well, and it has taken us a while to get her back,' said O'Brien. 'It's nice, safe ground here today and it looked like a good opportunity, and it was nice to get her head in front. 'She quickened past the leader and got a bit lonely in front, and in the last half-furlong she probably got a bit tired as she's been off the track for a year. It probably wasn't a strong race but I'd say a touch of class got her through, rather than fitness.' The second race, the Ross Castle Maiden, was also confined to four-year-olds and older, and even though there were just six runners, it had a fascinating market and produced a pulsating finish. In a last-gasp lunge for the line, the Gillian Scott-trained and Seamie Heffernan-ridden Red Hugh O'Donnell shaded the verdict from Ocean Manifest. It was only a matter of time before the cards fell right for Zipster, and his first success in Ireland came in the Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa Handicap. Trained by Ger O'Leary and given a well-judged ride by 7lb claimer Darragh O'Sullivan, he picked up well from off the strong pace to run down the leaders close home. Andy Slattery's team continues in superb form and after a couple of second-place finishes earlier on the card, he put a winner on the board when Royal Hollow, confidently ridden by Adam Ryan, took the Tote Qualified Riders' Maiden in grand style.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Colin Keane ruled out of Goodwood by 14-day whip ban
Colin Keane is set to miss the Qatar Goodwood Festival after being suspended for 14 days for using his whip over the permitted level at Sandown last week. The Irishman has not long been retained by Juddmonte as their first choice jockey and was aboard their colt Windlord when he won the Gala Stakes at the Esher track on Friday. Keane used his whip eight times in the closing stages of the contest, a count permissible in Ireland but not in England as the limit in Britain is six strikes in Flat contests. The British Horseracing Authority's whip review committee has fined him £350 and suspended him from July 22 to August 4, a spell that will see him miss the Sussex Stakes ride aboard Field Of Gold — with whom he won both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. Speaking at Sandown on Saturday, the rider said: "I'm so used to eight (strikes) as it is at home, I just have to abide by the rules here. "That's the only way I can put it, I know six is the amount over here but when I was in a ding-dong battle, I suppose it just went out of my head unfortunately. "It's unfortunate but it's my own fault."
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘It's my own fault' - Colin Keane hit with 14-day ban after miscalculating British whip rules
Colin Keane's miscalculation of the British whip rules last week has, as expected, cost him a 14-day ban and the upcoming ride on the season's star colt Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes. Ireland's champion jockey used his whip eight times when winning on Windlord for his Juddmonte employers at Sandown on Friday. Although that would have been fine in Ireland, the eight strikes were two over the cross-channel limit, a blunder Keane immediately acknowledged as his own fault. 'I'm so used to eight as it is at home, I just have to abide by the rules here. That's the only way I can put it. I know six is the amount over here but when I was in a ding-dong battle, I suppose it just went out of my head unfortunately. It's unfortunate but it's my own fault,' he admitted. READ MORE The British Horseracing Authority's whip review committee met on Tuesday and suspended the Irishman from July 22nd to August 4th. He was also fined £350 (€405). The ban also means Keane misses the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. It's a bitter blow for the six-time Irish champion jockey, who was appointed to the plum job of Juddmonte's number one rider in Europe last month. He quickly settled in with a superb success on Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a performance that prompted Keane to describe the grey colt as the best he's ridden. He also won May's Irish 2,000 Guineas on Field Of Gold. The John and Thady Gosden trained horse is as low as 4-7 in some betting lists to complete a Group One hat-trick in the Sussex Stakes at the end of the month. Keane replaced Kieren Shoemark on Field Of Gold in the Irish Guineas following the horse's controversial defeat in the Newmarket Guineas when a fast-finishing runner-up to Ruling Court.
