LEADING apprentice Jack Callan described today as “very, very special” as he reached a career milestone at Redcar by riding out his claim.

Jack, who has a commanding lead in the 2026 apprentice championship, reached the magic 95-winner mark on board Areti for Berkshire trainer Oliver Cole in the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Apprentice Fillies' Novice Stakes.

"It's a very, very special moment," said the young jockey. "It's a goal everyone has when they start to ride and to do it so quickly is fantastic."

Callan, son of Group 1 winning jockey Neil Callan, only had his first ride at the end of March last year, and has ridden out his claim in double-quick time.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who's supported me and put me on the map – it's been amazing. I just want to keep improving and ride as many winners as I can," he added.

Callan had particular praise for his retained trainer George Boughey, who also had a day to remember later in the afternoon when stable star Bow Echo won the Sussex Stakes in dramatic fashion at Glorious Goodwood.

Callan is in excellent company because Ryan Moore, arguably the world’s leading rider, also rode out his claim at Redcar.

Redcar was staging its second annual apprentices-only meeting and it was also a good day for young riders Warren Fentiman and Connor Whitely who both rode doubles.

Fentiman’s brace came on Kiss Me My Love, for North Yorkshire trainer Roger Fell, and Night Emperor, for Loftus handler, Tina Jackson.

Fentiman impressed with a flying finish on Kiss Me My Love to outgun Sandy Craic in the Marske Fabrications & Engineering Straight Mile Apprentice Fillies' Handicap. The filly had run down the field at York just four days previously

Fentiman said: "She loves the game and hopefully, there are more wins to come."

The horse is owned by NextGen Racing Club. Members include Billy Connally, who only joined three weeks ago and was seeing the filly run for the first time!

Fentiman’s quick-fire double came in the next race when Night Emperor won the Happy Big Birthday Rachel Blizzard Apprentice Handicap in a close finish, denying South Shore Island, ridden by local girl Molly Keegan-Price, who was raised in Marske.

Winning trainer Tina Jackson said: "I quite fancied him today. He's been a slow-learner, and I nearly sold him as a riding horse but the penny's starting to drop."

Whiteley’s brace of winners – Lucky Hero and Pisanello – were both trained at Helmsley by David O’Meara.

LuckyHero, a winner at Redcar in April, scored by an impressive five lengths in the Stephen and Alan Mulley Apprentice Handicap.

Whiteley said: "He's a nice big horse and stepping up in trip has done him good. I was happy with the gallop they went and he picked up well. These (apprentice-only) cards are really good for giving us a lot of chances."

It was such an easy victory, the runner-up, Optician, will have needed good eyesight to see the winner go past the post!

Pisanello was winning his second race in 10 days at Redcar when powering home in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Handicap.

The nine-year-old is owned by the Trendy Ladies syndicate, who were jubilant in the winner’s enclosure.

Penny Avison, who runs the syndicate of friends, said: "It's fantastic – we've had such a lot of fun with this horse."

The Trendy Ladies have another horse with David O'Meara – Flowstate, who's already won three times this year!

Archduke Ferdinand clearly loves Redcar. The grey, trained at Malton by Seb Spencer, made it three wins at the track by landing the Racing TV Free Trial British Apprentice Handicap.

The seven-year-old’s two previous Redcar wins were course records, and he comfortably held off the challenge of the Ruth Carr-trained Kats Bob for the hat-trick.

The victory was a first winner for the Spencer yard for Shay Farmer since he became retained apprentice.

Farmer said: "Archduke Ferdinand is a great partner in a race like this because he loves Redcar and he's done it nicely. At the start of the season, he wasn't himself, but I've felt him coming to himself in the past week."

The winning trainer is now planning to send the horse to Newmarket for the greys-only race he won two years ago.

MAIN PICTURE: Jack Callan wins on Areti to ride out his claim