Michael Kinane made his first visit to Salisbury for 18 years yesterday - and went home with a double. The Irishman's mount Clerkenwell, who was making his seasonal bow, was short headed by Samraan in the Salisbury Festival Conditions Stakes but was awarded the race after an inquiry into interference close home.
Clerkenwell nosed ahead of Samraan inside the final furlong but the latter drifted left under Gary Carter and slightly hampered the Michael Stoute-trained colt before getting back up in the dying strides. Kinane returned to weigh in convinced he would get the race in the stewards room and was proved correct.
Clerkenwell is now on course for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup and Ladbrokes reacted by trimming his odds from 16 to 1 to 14 to 1.
Kinane knows what it takes to win the latter, having lifted the prize on Vintage Crop in 1994 and said: "You need a horse that has speed and can quicken. Clerkenwell travelled well there but just got a little tired in the last half furlong."
Kinane went on to land his double when Blue Gentian stretched two lengths clear of Red Rabbit for division Two of the Quidhampton Fillies Maiden.
Trainer James Fanshawe emerged from the doldrums as Artic Owl was given a helping hand by the stewards at York yesterday. Artic Owl had been pipped a short head by Honourable in the Sun Life of Canada Garrowby Rated Stakes but after an inquiry the placings were reversed.
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