Colin Keane with Torn, his 126th winner of the season© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane equalled Joseph O'Brien's Irish Flat Championship record of 126 winners for a season at Dundalk today, achieving the feat on Torn in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series (Fillies) Maiden.
Keane will be crowned Champion Jockey for the third time in the coming weeks and today equalled the record set by dual-Champion Joseph O'Brien in 2013.
Riding heavily supported 13/8 favourite and first reserve Torn, for his employer Ger Lyons, Keane produced the daughter of Bated Breath from off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and eventually beat Queens Command by three parts of a length.
Keane, 27 and son of trainer Ger Keane, was delighted with result and later commented “it's brilliant to get it. I'm in a very lucky position as I ride for a lot of great people. I have great people around me, have a very good agent (Ruaidhri Tierney) and I'm riding nice horses.
“All those things together make this happen. It's been an unbelievable season, the way it has gone from strength to strength and we've had some nice winners in between.
“To get to this number is just unbelievable to be honest.”
Trainer Lyons' brother and assistant Shane Lyons added “it's a massive thrill for us for him to get the record in (owner) Sean Jones' colours because he's been our main stalwart. Sean will get a kick out of it and we'll get an even bigger kick.”
He added “she's a grand filly. She didn't act on the turning track at Punchestown and her best work there was going up the hill after the winning post. She enjoyed this galloping track here, that was always going to be an asset. She'll be a nicer filly next year over an extended trip.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
