MICHAEL KINANE may have only finished ninth in the World Super Jockeys in Hanshin at the weekend, but he still managed to ride a winner at the Japanese course on Saturday. He conjured a great run out of Nihon Pillow Holy, whose surge took him to a neck victory in a weight-for-age dirt race over nine furlongs.

Frankie Dettori (seventh) and Olivier Peslier (10th) were the other European riders taking part. Victory went to a foreign rider American Jerry Bailey, for the first time since 1987.

John Oxx's Asmara failed to shine on her second visit to France in the £18,445 Listed Prix Petite Etoile (10f) at Saint Cloud on Saturday and was a poor sixth to 25 to 1 shot Truly Generous.

Algan, Francois Doumen's King George VI Chase hopeful, could only finish fifth to Al Capone II in the Prix Georges Courtois (23/m) at Auteuil yesterday.