County Tipperary native, Shane Crosse is a brother of fellow apprentice Nathan. He rode his first winner on the Adrian Keatley-trained G Force at Naas in April 2018 and a second winner followed just two days later at Cork.
Crosse rode his first career double at Galway in September of the same year when successful on two horses trained by Joseph O’Brien, Elleanthus and Song Of The Sky. With 27 winners, Shane was crowned champion apprentice for the 2018 season at Naas, November 4.
His exceptional form sustained when he rode the first treble of his career just five days later as the 2018/2019 Winter All-Weather Series began at Dundalk. Kiss For Luck and Too Precious were both trained by Joseph O’Brien while Ahundrednotout was a winner for trainer Johnny Feane. Too Precious was his final winner as a 7lbs claimer.
We had the pleasure of getting an exclusive interview with Shane Crosse.
Tell us about yourself? I’ve just turned 18, I’m from Cahir in county Tipperary and I’m now on my second full year as an apprentice I’ve rode 60 winners in total and was privileged to have won champion apprentice last season.
How did you get into racing? I got into racing threw my parents , my dad Matt was a jump jockey in England for years and both himself and my mother had horses pre training and breaking at home all their lives so I kind of grew up around them, when I was 11 I found out about pony racing and that I think was a huge help to me and any young jockey , I learned so much from pony racing it gave me the head start heading into the real side of racing.
What does your normal day consist of doing? My normal every day consists of , the alarm goes off at 6am for work I grab a cup of coffee make sure to always have a breakfast no matter how small to keep me going for the day even when I have to waste maybe for racing later on in the day, first lot in Joseph’s heads out at 7:20 and I’d ride 5 or 6 lots depending on what time racing is starting at and that’s the case mainly at this time of the year it’s the busiest with racing on almost every day - then head off racing have a look threw my rides for the day and scan threw entries for later in the week to see what I might have coming up or a certain horse to look forward too, then after a day’s racing heading home after hopefully a winner, it would be straight to bed and up at 6 and do it all over again but I love it.
if you weren’t a jockey what job would interest you? To be quite honest I couldn’t see myself doing any other job then a jockey it’s just never crossed my mind it’s what I’ve done all my life so far and I’d be lying if I said any other profession. But I have a soft spot for soccer.
You have had a great record at Dundalk. What do you think gives you the edge there? Dundalk of course I’ve had a great amount of luck at! It’s a great track for apprentices because we seem to pick up a good few rides up there and I’ve gotten to know the way the track rides since I’ve started and I think it just suits my style of riding , I was lucky to have shared the winter series champion jockey with Colin Keane last year so it was great to have shared it with such a great talent like Colin .
What is like being Joseph O’Brien’s jockey? Being apprentice to Joseph had just been mind blowing for me! From the first day I went in I took a liking to the place straight away , just the vibe around the yard is great even with so many horses and all the staff we have the yard is ran so well and such a great atmosphere ever morning it’s a pleasure. Joseph himself has been great to me, we get on really well which is very important and I’m so great full for all the opportunity’s he has gave me from the word go!
Many have insisted your destined for the big Ballydoyle job, what do you think? People come up with ideas on what they think will happen in the future but getting the Ballydoyle job is not easily got and it would be something of course. I’d be aiming for as any jockey would be I’m sure , but it’s a long way down the line yet and we have so many good lads like Donnacha ,Seamie Hefffernan , Wayne Lordan and Ryan more nonetheless if the question was to be asked to me it’s something I definitely wouldn’t have trouble in answering.
Give us a few horses to follow at Dundalk?With Dundalk back in action now when have a nice bunch to run over the winter, we have a nice few 2yo who are still to get there first run and older horses that we all know as well.
Equitaint is horse who loves it up there he won twice up there last year and is in great form again this year and is sure to make a mark in Dundalk over the winter again.
A few smart 2yo to look forward to in some of the nursery’s would be the likes of Latin five, Phase after phase and Franklin street.
