Shane Foley will replace Colm O'Donoghue as the stable jockey for Jessica Harrington's Commonstown Stables for the 2019 Flat Season, the trainer announced on Monday. Foley's career highlights to date include the 2016 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas on Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and the 2018 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). For Harrington, Foley struck in the Listed Ingabelle S. at Leopardstown with Sparkle'n'joy (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) last year and his latest big-race triumph was in the GII San Marcos S. aboard Platinum Warrior (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for trainer John Sadler at Santa Anita on Feb. 9.
“We have used Shane for a number of years and I am delighted to secure him as our retained rider for the season ahead,” Harrington, who saddled champion Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) for four Group 1 victories in 2018, told Racing Post. “He is well established as one of the top-tier jockeys and is a Classic-winning rider. Shane is able to give us the commitment we and our owners require and I am delighted to have him.
“Our numbers have grown on the back of such a fantastic season last year and, while it's going to be even more competitive, we hope to build on that again. Shane has an existing arrangement to ride Mr. [Yuesheng] Zhang's horses, which will remain in place. Tom Madden, who's also a key member of our team, will act as second jockey and I hope to give him plenty of opportunities.”
Said Foley, “I have been involved as part of the team in Commonstown for a long number of years and I am thrilled and excited to firm up the arrangement for the season ahead. Jessie is firmly established as one of the leading Flat trainers in Ireland and Britain and this is one of the top jobs that anyone would be delighted to have. I have been riding out regularly and we look to have a really exciting bunch of horses for the season. I can't wait to get started.”
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