SCAN the list of champion apprentice names and you will see more than a few jockeys who have gone onto superstardom.
William Buick, Oisin Murphy and Ryan Moore are just a few of today’s top jocks to have claimed the prestigious title.
Lane was champion apprentice jockey but packed it all in for life on a ‘paradise’ islandGetty
But look a little closer and you will see names that will ring a bell – but are no longer competing day in, day out.
Saleem Golam was joint-champion with Hayley Turner in 2005 but gave up racing to become a barber.
Freddy Tylicki was top in 2009 but a devastating fall ended his career and left him in a wheelchair.
Martin Lane succeeded Tylicki as the best young jockey around – but despite winning £3.8million he would go onto call it quits too.
Lane announced he was retiring from racing on live TV in 2017, just after he had ridden a winner for Godolphin at Chelmsford.
The former jockey was operating at a 14 per cent strike rate that season – the best of his career – and had earnings on the track of £356,953.
Two years before he had amassed a massive £653,270 total and smashed the half a million quid mark the two years before that too.
But as Mark Enright recently explained, the gruelling existence of a top jockey can quickly take its toll.
Lane decided enough was enough for him and packed the game in for a different challenge in a different part of the world entirely.
A five-star luxury resort on Malolo island just off Fiji – thousands of miles and a 24-hour flight away – was calling his name.
Labelled ‘paradise’ because of its amazing beaches and sea, Lane had snapped up a job as an operations manager.
Explaining his reasoning for quitting, Lane, who was a Group 1 winners, said at the time: “After 13 years of race-riding I have decided to retire from my career in the saddle to pursue a new opportunity abroad.
“It has been a difficult decision to make as racing has been a hugely important part of my life and something I have enjoyed immensely since I started my apprenticeship in 2005.
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“There have been many highlights, none more so than partnering Sheikhzayedroad to Grade 1 success in Canada and winning the champion apprentice title in 2010.
“I have loved being part of the racing community and have made many great friendships along the way.
“But I will be moving to Fiji to take up the role of operations manager at Vunabaka, a new resort development.
“Although it will be a massive change of pace to race-riding, I am very excited by the new opportunity and the next chapter in my life.”
And, really, who could blame him?
Vunbaka is a ‘private enclave set within 120 acres of waterfront, ocean, marina and hilltop sites’.
A stunning development with villas available to rent or purchase, most people get round the island via golf cart rather than car.
And there probably isn’t a horse in sight – not that Lane would care one bit.
Who could blame Lane for leaving Blighty for this sort of lifestyle in Fiji?
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