World class recognition for Colin Keane
Trim man Colin Keane will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of another Meath man at the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) in Hong Kong next month.
The LONGINES IJC is an annual four-race competition featuring 12 of the world's best jockeys and is a highlight of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, a week-long celebration of elite horse racing.
Keane is the only newcomer this year among the world class line-up of international riders that includes Ryan Moore, Javier Castellano, Hugh Bowman and Yutaka Take among others and he will be in action at the prestigious event on Wednesday 5th December at Happy Valley.
Bohermeen man Johnny Murtagh, who was the Irish champion jockey at the time, won the IJC title in 2009, so Colin Keane will be the second Meath man bidding for the title.
Keane, who was champion jockey last year with 100 winners, will be the 12th Irish-born jockey to compete in the competition and will join an illustrious list that, apart from Murtagh, includes the likes of Mick Kinane, Kieran Fallon and Pat Ederry.
Selection to participate in this championship is invitation-only and Keane's inclusion reflects hugely on his association with trainer Ger Lyons and his achievements in Ireland - from champion apprentice in 2013 to champion jockey in 2017.
KERRI LYONS
However, he nearly missed the deadline to confirm participation in the IJC
"I can be slow opening emails, but luckily my girlfriend Kerri (Lyons - daughter of trainer Ger) spotted the Hong Kong invitation just before the deadline," he said.
"It's a great opportunity to go in against some of the best in the world and I'll be asking a few jockeys who've ridden at Happy Valley before about what to expect," commented Keane who will be one of only 12 jockeys to compete in the HK$800,000 competition.
Colin, is the son of trainer Gerry (and Esther) Keane and is a grandson of Vincent Keane who also trained near Trim.
He tallied some 85 winners on the "pony racing" circuit before starting his career as an apprentice jockey as a 16-year-old.
Last year he won his first Group 1 win on the Tony Martin-trained Laganore in the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle in Italy.
GROUP 1 WINNER
This year he finished second to Donnacha O'Brien in the race for the title with an impressive total of 84 winners.
He was second in the race for the title of Irish Champion Apprentice in 2013 and won the title in 2014 with 54 winners, the year he was made stable jockey to Ger Lyons.
Ger has sent horses to Hong Kong - he trained the smart Dinozzo, Insayshable and Doctor Geoff before they made their way east - and he is delighted with this latest recognition for his talented stable jockey.
"I can't wait for the world to see what he can do," commented Lyons.
"Colin is a lovely, unassuming lad who works incredibly hard and as soon as he came to me I knew we had something special.
"He's so sharp out of the gate in a race, he knows just where to be as things develop, and if he is out the back in the early stages then you know it's for a good reason.
COLIN KEANE AND GER LYONS
"A trip like this is very important to him and, if the gods smile on him, I've no doubt that he can prove a match for Ryan Moore and all those top riders.
"It was the highlight of my career to help make Colin champion jockey.
"Michael Kinane started travelling the world to show how good Irish jockeys are all those years ago and then Johnny Murtagh took up the lead.
"I always think what's meant for you won't go past you and Colin is ready for this exposure.
"I know he'll make a good impression as a person and I'd love to see him win a race on a night like this at Happy Valley just to show people how good he really is," added Lyons.