Kinane guides Azamour to victory

Racing Ascot reportMichael Kinane is acknowledged throughout the world as a big-race specialist but his success on Azamour at Royal Ascot yesterday indicated that probably no big race brings out the best in him quite like the St James's Palace Stakes.

It's 22 years since a youthful Kinane first made his Group One mark outside Ireland when the Liam Browne-trained Dara Monarch followed up a victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas helped by a typically forceful drive from his rider.

Azamour arrived on day one of the famous festival with defeats in both the English and Irish Guineas behind him but showed more than enough in defeating Diamond Green and Antonius Pius to suggest he may yet emulate even the greatest of Kinane's previous five winners of the race.

Since they also include Giants Causeway (2000) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) that is no small statement but while the latter confined himself to a mile, Azamour strongly indicated a hike in trip will show an even better colt.

Kinane's pre-race concern had been a possible lack of pace and when Newton, the Aidan O'Brien pacemaker for Antonius Pius, missed the break it briefly looked like circumstances were going to conspire against the John Oxx- trained colt.

Sure enough Kinane was one of the first to get to work. With the Newmarket Guineas winner Haafhd still in front and Jamie Spencer swinging off Antonius Pius at the rear, Azamour looked destined for another Group One minor placing but the evidence of some impressive pre-race work-outs didn't lie.

Azamour never flinched under pressure even when Antonius Pius cruised up at the furlong pole to look the likely winner.

Spencer afterwards blamed a lack of early pace on Antonius Pius's defeat but since the field clocked only half a second off the course record it looked like the Ballydoyle colt's problems remain more mental than physical.

Diamond Green met some traffic on the inside but ultimately Azamour was good value for the winning neck and certainly value enough to gain a glowing review from his rider.

"He has the physical size and scope to improve so I hope there are a few more good days ahead of him," said Kinane. "I knew we hadn't seen the best from him but since the Curragh he has done well and he loves that fast surface. I think the Irish Champion Stakes will be under serious consideration later on."

It was a 31st Royal Ascot success for the jockey and while John Oxx can't compete with that total, his 40 per cent strike rate at the meeting over the last five year is as good as anyone's.

"He's a lovely horse, a lovely athlete. He's got everything," said the trainer whose words of praise are usually used more sparingly. "We have to decide if we'll stay at a mile one more time for the Sussex Stakes but we have the Irish Champion in mind."

There was an Irish connection to the winner of the other Group One contest, the Queen Anne Stakes, as Dermot Weld's former 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend bounced right back to form with a neck defeat of Soviet Song under an exultant Frankie Dettori.

Refuse To Bend had never won for Godolphin and hadn't won at all since last autumn's Desmond Stakes but Dettori explained: "He danced every dance last year and maybe he lost a bit of confidence. He's got that touch of class but it took time to come."

Iceman earned a 20 to 1 quote from Cashmans for next year's 2,000 Guineas after powering through the Coventry Stakes field under Kieren Fallon. Aidan O'Brien's Oratorio faded to seventh.

"We'll give him a break and bring him back for the Champagne at Doncaster. Then we'll see about the Dewhurst," said Iceman's trainer John Gosden.

That was an 18th royal success for the trainer but veteran Milton Bradley hit the mark for the first time with The Tatling who was a length and a half too good for the Hong Kong horse Cape Of Good Hope in the Kings Stand Stakes.