Ger Lyons reached a landmark 1,000 career winners as Offiah struck at Roscommon on Monday.

Lyons sent out his first winner at Navan in October 1994, and Royal Ascot success came in 2007 through Elletelle in the Queen Mary, ridden by Johnny Murtagh. It was also Murtagh in the saddle when Lightening Pearl won the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in 2011.

The Co Meath trainer last year enjoyed his first two classic victories, courtesy of Siskin in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Even So in the Irish Oaks – both ridden Colin Keane, with whom he has forged a formidable partnership.

Fittingly it was champion jockey Keane – who reached the fastest century of winners ever for a rider in Ireland at the weekend – doing the steering aboard 5/1 chance Offiah in the Class Grass Handicap, coming home three and a quarter lengths clear of favourite Big Baby Bull.

Shane Lyons is assistant to his brother at Glenburnie Stables and said: “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 vice 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!”

He added: “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 this horse. He nicks 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.”

Date of first licence: 1994

First winner: Maelalong (Johnny Murtagh), Navan, October 12, 1994

1,000th winner: Offiah (Colin Keane), Roscommon, August 30, 2021

Big Race Wins

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) (Siskin (USA) - C.T. Keane - 2019)

Irish EBF Ballyhane Stks (Med Auct Race) (Sacred Bridge (GB) - C.T. Keane - 2021)

Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 2) (Ardhoomey - C.T. Keane - 2016)

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) (Even So - C.T. Keane - 2020)

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Siskin (USA) - C.T. Keane - 2020)

Tattersalls Ire. Super Auction Sale Stks (Glass House (GB) - G.F. Carroll - 2015)

Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Bold Lad' Sprint Hcap (Buffer Zone (GB) - C.T. Keane - 2019)

GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) (Siskin (USA) - C.T. Keane - 2019)

Foran Equine Irish EBF Auct. Race Final (Ecliptical - C.T. Keane - 2020)

Topaz Mile H'cap (Brendan Brackan - C.T. Keane - 2013)

GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) (Medicine Jack (GB) - C.T. Keane - 2016)

Michael McNamara & Co.Builders H'cap (Amourallis - C.D. Hayes - 2004)

Paddy Power Sprint (Burn The Boats - G.F. Carroll - 2013)

Tote Irish Lincolnshire (Karawaan - C.T. Keane - 2019)

Tote Irish Lincolnshire (Brendan Brackan - G.F. Carroll - 2017)

Tote Irish Cambridgeshire (Sea Wolf - C.T. Keane - 2016)

Goffs Sportsman's Challenge (Pasar Silbano - J.P. Murtagh - 2008)

Powers Gold Cup (Grade 1) (Big-And-Bold - R. Walsh - 2002)

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stks (Group 3) (Berg Bahn - K. Latham - 2010)

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stks (Group 3) (Ainippe - C.T. Keane - 2015)

Details curtsey of HRI