MICHAEL KINANE was 38 yesterday and celebrated his birthday with a double for trainer Dermot Weld at Gowran Park. Unfortunately, the big day also saw the former champion jockey caught in the eye of a Henry Cecil storm.
The Newmarket trainer was critical yesterday of Kinane's riding at the Royal Ascot meeting, where Cecil believes Kinane caused interference with a number of his runners ridden by Kieren Fallon.
Kinane denied Cecil's claims and also denied that there was any feud between himself and Fallon. "Incidents like what happened at Ascot happen all the time. It's the nature of the game," he said.
Such a disagreement between two of European racing's heavy-weights is surprising, considering the vein of success that Cecil and Kinane have mined together in the past. It includes winning the 1993 Epsom Derby on Commander In Chief and the 1989 Irish Oaks on Alydaress.
Gowran provided Kinane with a much happier experience, the highlight being Token Gesture's impressive success in the listed Victor McCalmont Stakes. The win earned the filly a tilt at the Irish Oaks and Weld is confident she will run well in the classic.
"That was a good performance today in a very good race. Along with French Ballerina and Caiseal Ros, there were three of the best fillies in the country running there and it really was a Group Three race in standard. In fact, I'd like to see this race brought forward to Group Three status," Weld said. She'll take her chance in the Irish Oaks which is the logical way to go with her."
Puzzled Airs had earlier kicked off the Kinane double when putting two lengths between herself and Fizz Up in the St Mullins Maiden. The Mtoto filly is owned by the Hamburg businessman, Jochen Doehle, Who is also a major force in German showjumping.
The finish of the Borris Handicap was a much more eventful affair. Apprentice Declan Quirke looked to have the race won oil Jim Bolger's Fine Project when he looked over his left shoulder in the closing stages, but to the horror of Fine Project's backers, Quirke failed to notice Bajan Queen making progress on the inner.
The rider dropped his hands briefly and Eddie Ahern snapped up his chance to drive Bajan Queen a head clear in the shadow of the post. Quirke admitted that he had been unaware of Bajan Queen on his inner and the stewards gave him a three-day ban and ordered that he forfeit his riding fee.
Tony Mullins put forward the Italian Champion Hurdle at Merano on September 15th as a target for his consistent mare, Lady Daisy, who eventually got the better of a protracted duel with Sambara in the Jack Duggan Coolmore Handicap Hurdle.
Sambara's trainer Willie Mullins had better luck earlier, however, when he saddled Magical Minty to beat the hot favourite, Kincara Palace, by a length in the juvenile maiden. The winning owner, David Jefferson, from Cumbria, only saw the colt for the first time in the parade ring.
Peintre Celebre confirmed himself as one of the best French middle distance horses in recent years with a decisive victory in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp yesterday.
