Ger Lyons records 1,000th winner with Offiah

Ger Lyons recorded his 1,000th winner as a trainer when Offiah made all for a decisive victory in the Class Grass Handicap at Roscommon.

Fittingly the career milestone was recorded with stable jockey Colin Keane aboard and owned by two of the trainer’s greatest supporters in David Spratt and Sean Jones in partnership with Lyons’ wife Lynne.

Lyons, who saddled his first winner with Maelalong at Navan in October 1994, has steadily increased the quality of his string in Glenburnie Stables over the past two decades and was rewarded with classic wins for both Siskin and Even So last year.

Offiah has been generally frustrating up to now but benefitted from a very positive ride from the front by Colin Keane, staying on strongly to score by three and a quarter lengths at odds of 5/1. Big Baby Bull took the runner-up spot with Swiss Army Officer a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.

Shane Lyons, brother and assistant trainer, paid tribute saying: “Ger is so dedicated. He just loves animals and that shines through with certain horses especially this lad. He just gets into their heads and fills them with loads of confidence.

“In our yard they are happy horses. Happy staff make happy horses and visa versa.

“He doesn’t copy what other trainers do - he thinks outside the box. Sometimes you think this lad is losing it but all of a sudden you realise none of us would have thought of that with certain genius things that he does.

“It’s been a great ride and it will be a long ride for the next 1,000 but hopefully we are still there for it!

“We’re delighted to get it in Roscommon as well as it’s a very lucky track for us. Michael Finneran and his crew are very good to us and have great facilities which they are always upgrading.

“It’s a front-runner’s track but Colin was very good on him. He nick’s lengths on bends and is riding with so much confidence.

“The horse was threatening to do that for a long time and it’s great for Sean Jones and David Spratt to be part of this historic winner.”