Dane O'Neill
Dane William O’Neill was born in Dublin on August 1, 1975, but brought up in Monkstown, Co. Cork. As a boy he was successful in the show-jumping arena and rode 24 winners in pony races.
Dane William O’Neill was born in Dublin on August 1, 1975, but brought up in Monkstown, Co. Cork. As a boy he was successful in the show-jumping arena and rode 24 winners in pony races.
He moved to England aged 17 and served his apprenticeship with Richard Hannon Snr at East Everleigh, Wiltshire. He rode his first winner on Port Sunlight in an apprentices’ handicap at Sandown Park on July 15, 1993. He only rode seven winners in his first three seasons but his breakthrough year came in 1996 when he was crowned champion apprentice with 79 wins.
He moved to England aged 17 and served his apprenticeship with Richard Hannon Snr at East Everleigh, Wiltshire. He rode his first winner on Port Sunlight in an apprentices’ handicap at Sandown Park on July 15, 1993. He only rode seven winners in his first three seasons but his breakthrough year came in 1996 when he was crowned champion apprentice with 79 wins.
He achieved his first Group race success on Lots Of Magic in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 16, 1999 for Hannon. The very next day he landed the Cork and Orrery Stakes on Bold Edge. Dane won seven races on Bold Edge, returning to Ascot later that year to win the Diadem Stakes. That horse also provided him with his Group 1 victory in the 2000 Prix Maurice de Gheest, as well as finishing second in the 1999 July Cup.
He achieved his first Group race success on Lots Of Magic in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 16, 1999 for Hannon. The very next day he landed the Cork and Orrery Stakes on Bold Edge. Dane won seven races on Bold Edge, returning to Ascot later that year to win the Diadem Stakes. That horse also provided him with his Group 1 victory in the 2000 Prix Maurice de Gheest, as well as finishing second in the 1999 July Cup.
Dane began riding for Henry Candy in 2003 and won that year’s Group 2 Temple Stakes for him on Airwave. That was also his most successful year in terms of winners with 110 in Britain.
Dane began riding for Henry Candy in 2003 and won that year’s Group 2 Temple Stakes for him on Airwave. That was also his most successful year in terms of winners with 110 in Britain.
He remained with Henry Candy until 2012 when he was appointed second jockey for Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate, a post he would retain until the end of his career.
He remained with Henry Candy until 2012 when he was appointed second jockey for Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate, a post he would retain until the end of his career.
Wearing the famous blue and white silks he was understudy to Shadwell’s first jockeys Paul Hanagan and Jim Crowley but stood in for them successfully in several big races, including the inaugural running of Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup in 2015 on Shadwell’s supposed second string, the Charlie Hills-trained Muhaarar, and the 2018 Temple Stakes on Battaash. He finished third in 2014 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Mukhadram.
Wearing the famous blue and white silks he was understudy to Shadwell’s first jockeys Paul Hanagan and Jim Crowley but stood in for them successfully in several big races, including the inaugural running of Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup in 2015 on Shadwell’s supposed second string, the Charlie Hills-trained Muhaarar, and the 2018 Temple Stakes on Battaash. He finished third in 2014 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Mukhadram.
He also rode other top-flight Shadwell horses in the early stages of their careers, including a Newmarket maiden on Taghrooda and a Kempton conditions race on Tamarkuz, both in 2013, and two wins from two rides on Baaeed – a Leicester maiden and Newmarket novice race – in June 2021.
He also rode other top-flight Shadwell horses in the early stages of their careers, including a Newmarket maiden on Taghrooda and a Kempton conditions race on Tamarkuz, both in 2013, and two wins from two rides on Baaeed – a Leicester maiden and Newmarket novice race – in June 2021.
Dane also enjoyed plenty of success in Dubai including back-to-back renewals of the Jebel Hatta in 2022 and 2023 on Alfareeq, along with the 2023 Al Quoz Sprint on Danyah on Meydan’s Dubai World Cup night.
Dane also enjoyed plenty of success in Dubai including back-to-back renewals of the Jebel Hatta in 2022 and 2023 on Alfareeq, along with the 2023 Al Quoz Sprint on Danyah on Meydan’s Dubai World Cup night.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on a less exalted stage when landing the 7f Toons Furnishes Handicap at Leicester aboard Craven for trainer Richard Fahey on July 8, 2023.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on a less exalted stage when landing the 7f Toons Furnishes Handicap at Leicester aboard Craven for trainer Richard Fahey on July 8, 2023.
Later that month he broke seven ribs and the T6 vertebra in a fall at Wolverhampton. When released from hospital he spent eight months attending the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House in Lambourn for rehab and physio as recommended by the consultants dealing with his injury. Unfortunately, it was to no avail, and in March 2024 he was forced to announce his retirement on medical grounds, having sustained what proved to be a career-ending injury.
Later that month he broke seven ribs and the T6 vertebra in a fall at Wolverhampton. When released from hospital he spent eight months attending the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House in Lambourn for rehab and physio as recommended by the consultants dealing with his injury. Unfortunately, it was to no avail, and in March 2024 he was forced to announce his retirement on medical grounds, having sustained what proved to be a career-ending injury.
Dane O’Neill rode a total of 1,889 winners in Britain during a 32-year career, and enjoyed successful times in Dubai and elsewhere. He nominated the Commonwealth Cup triumph of Shadwell’s Muhaarar as a favourite memory and offered special thanks to the operation’s late founder Hamdan Al Maktoum and his daughter Sheikha Hissa who took over its running following her father’s death.
Dane O’Neill rode a total of 1,889 winners in Britain during a 32-year career, and enjoyed successful times in Dubai and elsewhere. He nominated the Commonwealth Cup triumph of Shadwell’s Muhaarar as a favourite memory and offered special thanks to the operation’s late founder Hamdan Al Maktoum and his daughter Sheikha Hissa who took over its running following her father’s death.
Major wins
Major wins
1999: Abernant Stakes – Bold Edge
1999: Abernant Stakes – Bold Edge
1999: Jersey Stakes – Lots Of Magic
1999: Jersey Stakes – Lots Of Magic
1999: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Bold Edge
1999: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Bold Edge
1999: Diadem Stakes – Bold Edge
1999: Diadem Stakes – Bold Edge
2000: Prix Maurice de Gheest – Bold Edge
2000: Prix Maurice de Gheest – Bold Edge
2003: Temple Stakes – Airwave
2003: Temple Stakes – Airwave
2015: Commonwealth Cup – Muhaarar
2015: Commonwealth Cup – Muhaarar
2017: Sprint Stakes – Battaash
2017: Sprint Stakes – Battaash
2018: Temple Stakes – Battaash
2018: Temple Stakes – Battaash
2020: Summer Mile – Mohaather
2020: Summer Mile – Mohaather
2022: Jebel Hatta – Alfareeq
2022: Jebel Hatta – Alfareeq
2023: Jebel Hatta – Alfareeq
2023: Jebel Hatta – Alfareeq
2023: Al Quoz Sprint – Danyah
2023: Al Quoz Sprint – Danyah