Keane crowned champion apprentice
Trim jockey Colin Keane claimed the Irish Flat Apprentice Jockey title for 2014 and was presented with huis award on the final day of thes eason at Leopardstown todasy by Ireland and Leinster rugby player Fergus McFadden who also presented trophies to the champion trainer, owner and jockey.
Keane won the Champion Apprentice Title with 54 winners for the season.
The son of trainer Gerry Keane, Colin made steady progress as a rider throughout 2011 and 2012, but it was when he joined the Ger Lyons that his career really began to take off.
He came close to matching the record number of wins by an apprentice in a season, currently held by Joseph O’Brien with 57 wins in 2011 which beat Raymond Carroll’s 52 wins set in 1976.
Offaly man Pat Smullen claimed the jockeys' title this year for the seventh time, after riding over 100 winners in a season for the first time.
The Champion Trainer was Aidan O’Brien with 103 winners
The 2014 Flat Champions received custom-made perpetual Irish silver trophies, presented by Fergus McFadden, in the parade ring at Leopardstown after the Tote November Handicap.
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “ A special mention must go to Colin Keane, who has demonstrated huge talent, not only being crowned Champion Apprentice but finishing so high overall in the Jockeys Championship.”