Martin Lane retires from the saddle

Jockey Martin Lane has announced his retirement from the saddle after he steered Crown Walk to victory for Godolphin at Chelmsford on Friday.

The 2010 champion apprentice will take up a new career as operations manager in a new resort in Fiji in February.

"We all have to retire at some stage and I've had some great days," Lane told At The Races.

"I was approached with a really good job and one I couldn't refuse.

"I've loved race riding and I still love it, but we all have to retire at some stage an the right offer is there for me.

"I'll be moving to Fiji and becoming operations manager for a new island resort.

"It's very different from what I'm currently doing and what I've always done but it's something that's exciting and I'm really looking forward to starting it.

"I've had some great times and riding a winner for Godolphin was a great way to finish it. I spoke to Charlie (Appleby, trainer) the other day and that was the plan.

"Life is all about new challenges and it's going to be fun.

"It's something that has always appealed to me - housing and architecture.

"I could have continued. I've been consistent on the 50-winner mark. I'm positive I could have continued for the next 10 years but I just felt the right opportunity was there to retire and I'm looking forward to the future."

Lane has ridden more than 430 winners in a career that kicked off in 2009 when he got 28 on the board. The following year when he was champion apprentice with 52 winners, he took the John Smith's Cup at York on Wigmore Hall for Michael Bell.

His biggest triumph came on Sheikhzayedroad in the Grade One Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in 2014. He also won the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes on David Simcock's talented performer and the Hungerford Stakes on Breton Rock the same year.