Kinane dominates with sparkling treble

RACING News round-up: Michael Kinane made a spectacular comeback to action in Ireland when landing a near 56 to 1 treble that…

RACING News round-up: Michael Kinane made a spectacular comeback to action in Ireland when landing a near 56 to 1 treble that included both Group Three races at the Curragh yesterday. The champion jockey rode a double at Newmarket over the weekend following his controversial fall from Sahara Sonnet at Navan 10 days ago but on home turf yesterday he was irresistible

Kinane made all the running on Leitrim House to win the Rock Of Gibraltar Tetrarch Stakes from Grand Reward and then made it a Group-race double for the cross-channel raiders when Nysaean routed the opposition in the Mooresbridge Stakes.

The well-beaten favourite was Brian Boru who was under pressure from three furlongs out and left trainer Aidan O'Brien bemused with the display. "Maybe I was a little too easy with him since his last race," said O'Brien who will ponder the Coronation Cup option for the St Leger winner. "That was the plan: two races and then Epsom. At least that would mean he could race the other way. But it's hard to know," added O'Brien who said he could also give Powerscourt a first start of the year in the Coronation Cup.

The Epsom Group One doesn't figure among Nysaean's immediate options but in winning the Mooresbridge for a second time in a row he has opened up some ambitious targets. "He is magic on very soft ground and we will be thinking of the Arc. He could also be supplemented for the Tattersalls," said Peter Doyle who represented trainer Richard Hannon.

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The going yesterday was anything but soft and Leitrim Lad earned a 14 to 1 quote from Cashmans for the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas after running the third fastest time ever over the Curragh's seven furlongs in the Tetrarch. He clocked 1min, 22.3secs which only Hawk Wing in 2001 and Smokey Lad in 1991 have ever bettered and trainer Brian Meehan was anything but surprised. "He confirmed what we thought when he won at Lingfield that he is a proper horse and he will get a mile," said Meehan. "He has done nothing but progress and that was certainly good enough for me!" Meehan trains the winner for Leitrim-born owners Pat Gallagher and Des O'Rourke who are both in the construction business in Kent.

Early in the straight there only looked to be one winner of the mile and a half handicap as topweight Persian Knight appeared to travel easily. However, he faded badly in the closing stages as Kinane brought Athlumney Lad through from the rear.

The 3 to 10 favourite Russian Blue duly turned the opener into a procession and booked himself a Royal Ascot trial in the Marble Hill Stakes after breaking the minute barrier for five furlongs.

"It takes a smart horse to do that and he did it comfortably," said Aidan O'Brien who reported a recent lucky escape for last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, Yesterday. The filly suffered an attack of colitis, the condition that claimed Mozart, and O'Brien said: "She was very lucky to survive but she could be back to us at Ballydoyle within a week."