Juddmonte appoint Champion Jockey Colin Keane as retained rider

June 9, 2025

Juddmonte have confirmed the appointment of six-time Irish Champion Jockey Colin Keane as the operation’s retained rider.

The 30-year-old has won six of the last eight Irish Champion Jockey titles since 2017 and will partner Juddmonte’s leading horses around the world.

Keane has been stable jockey to Juddmonte trainer Ger Lyons since 2014 and will continue to ride for the yard when available.

A four-time Irish Classic-winning rider, Keane impressed Juddmonte bosses most recently when steering Field Of Gold to victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last month.

Following successes on Siskin (Irish 2,000 Guineas, 2020), Even So (Irish Oaks, 2020) and Westover (Irish Derby, 2022), Keane is no stranger to triumph on the biggest stage.

His maiden Group 1 success in Britain came in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Tamfana last autumn and Keane has tasted glory across the Atlantic too, winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Juddmonte, a leading international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding enterprise, have been without a retained rider since James Doyle held the position briefly over ten years ago.

The operation’s chief executive Douglas Erskine Crum said: “We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey relationship.

“We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte.”

Keane added: “I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it’s very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte.

“I’m excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides and he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.”

Which horses will Colin Keane ride for Juddmonte?

Keane will enjoy the pick of the bunch in the famous pink, green and white silks with his first major task at Royal Ascot only around the corner.

The flagship contender, John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold, is the current even money favourite with horse racing betting sites for the St. James’s Palace Stakes and could go on to the Eclipse at Sandown.

Lead Artist is a major player in the Queen Anne Stakes after winning the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.

Jonquil kicked off his season impressively in the Greenham Stakes before finishing a narrow second to Henri Matisse in the French 2,000 Guineas – and there is talk of him dropping down in trip for the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot.

Detain is another horse Keane will look forward to getting back on after a promising sixth in the French 2,000 Guineas before improving to finish third in the French Derby under Christophe Soumillon earlier this month.

Cosmic Year tasted defeat for the first time when runner-up in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but looks a promising colt for the future with a bit of ease in the ground – potential targets including the St. James’s Palace and Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Kalpana produced a mighty effort on reappearance to finish third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and remains on course for a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of the season.

She could take her place in either the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot, the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh or the Eclipse.

Babouche is another well-fancied Ascot contender, currently second-favourite for the Commonwealth Cup after a comfortable win in the Goffs Lacken Stakes over Whistlejacket at Naas.