Kinane proves Minardi has Formula One pace

Liverpool's David Fairclough may have been the original super-sub, but Minardi was definitely the best when he destroyed yesterday's Independent Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes field by an astonishing five lengths.

On the basis that Michael Kinane's intended presence on his back indicated superior ability, one can only wonder what Freud might have done to the field; but maybe that sort of lateral thinking is misleading.

We'll never know, as the supposed Aidan O'Brien headline act was found to be lame in the morning and faces a spell on the sidelines. But the subsequent lack of anxiety in the Ballydoyle camp was noticeable as Kinane quickly picked Minardi from the four other O'Brien horses in the race and enjoyed an armchair ride.

Another significant pointer was the 5 to 1 to 7 to 2 move for Minardi in the market, but even that failed to conjure a preview of what the colt was capable of. Even Fairclough never scored with more style.

As Longueville Legend, Silca Legend and Cashel Palace dominated in the early stages, the two top English fillies, Superstar Leo and Dora Carrington, waited to pounce. Even then, however, Minardi was moving with spectacular menace, and when Kinane put him to the lead just under two furlongs out the race was effectively over.

Like O'Brien's 1998 Heinz winner Lavery, Minardi was a maiden coming here, but unlike the 1999 winner, Fasliyev, he is likely to be a factor in the top flight for some time to come.

"I thought he'd burn the grass when we sent him to Ascot last month, but he ran very babyish and green," said O'Brien, who praised Kinane's tender handling on that occasion. "The winner (Rumpold) got first run and there was no point chasing him."

What would happen if Minardi met Rumpold again would be interesting, and when a hypothetical clash between Minardi and the absent Freud was put to the trainer, he only grinned and offered: "They'd each have a tough race!"

O'Brien indicated Minardi will have a break now, while the Galway winner Hemingway contests the Prix de la Salamandre in three weeks. But he did mention the end of season championship, the Dewhurst, as a target for yesterday's winner.

Superstar Leo's trainer, Willie Haggas, offered: "Time may tell it was no disgrace to finish second to that horse. He had come to Ascot with a big reputation. My filly is extraordinary and ran her guts out."

Michael Hills confirmed that Superstar Leo had stayed the trip, while Pat Eddery made no excuses for the favourite, Dora Carrington. "She ran a super race. So did the other filly. They were just beaten by a very good colt," Eddery said.

O'Brien and Kinane did the same job in the opening maiden as Stone Age successfully substituted for the off-feed Sligo Bay, but while Stone Age got home by a neck, the favourite in the Phoenix Sprint, Eastern Purple, only just squeezed past by a short head.

The Tipperary-born, Yorkshire-based trainer Kevin Ryan despaired when he saw Eastern Purple lead at the start, but although Conormara crept past the favourite on the inner a furlong out, it was just what Eastern Purple wanted.

"He loves chasing horses and that horse heading him was what he wanted. We gelded him after he ran at Ascot and it's improved him 10lb," said Ryan.

"The Nunthorpe and the Stanley Leisure Cup at Haydock are targets, and we hope we get an invitation to Hong Kong in the winter."

Eastern Purple was a welcome winner for the seven-time Hong Kong champion Basil Marcus, who is now again based in Britain. The South African-born rider won the 1990 Derrinstown Trial on Anvari on his last Leopardstown visit.

Grand Finale returned from a long layoff to land the Listed Ballyroan Stakes by half a length from Palace Royale and open up a series of autumn options. "I'll have to discuss them with the owner, but he's come back from the problems he's had well," said Dermot Weld.