Mozart, Kinane orchestrate win

Mozart showed he is the fastest horse in Europe with a remarkable victory in the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes at York yesterday - despite a slipping saddle.

A battle with the best sprinters in America at the Breeders' Cup in October now beckons for the brilliantly speedy colt, who was giving all-conquering trainer Aidan O'Brien his sixth Group One win of the season in Britain.

But he came perilously close to disaster in the early stages and only rewarded those who sent him off 4 to 9 favourite thanks to a miraculous ride from Michael Kinane.

For the three-year-old's saddle slipped leaving the stalls and his jockey's main concern for most of the five-furlong trip was staying on board, rather than victory.

But Mozart, who had shown himself a top-notch six-furlong performer when running away with the Darley July Cup at Newmarket, was able to hold a position in touch with trail-blazing Repertory.

He hit the front around two furlongs out and held on bravely by two lengths from last year's winner Nuclear Debate. Bishops Court was another three-quarters of a length back in third, with Repertory fading into fourth.

"That was an incredible performance," Kinane reflected. "As he jumped out of the stalls the saddle went back and I just hoped the saddle would stay on.

"I was very worried - I didn't think I would see the winning post!"

O'Brien, landing his fourth win at this week's Ebor meeting, added: "Michael couldn't push him, he was afraid he was going to come off and he just had to keep the saddle between his legs.

"The weight was back on Mozart's kidneys rather than his shoulders - it was like riding a camel!"

Next target for Mozart is set to be the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont Park - where he will bid to avenge the defeat of O'Brien's 1999 July Cup and Nunthorpe winner Stravinsky.

The big six-furlong race is run on dirt and the colt could well have a preliminary gallop on the all-weather, as former stable-companion Giant's Causeway did before his second in the Classic last year.

"I would imagine if he is going to run again it will be in the Breeders' Cup," the trainer said.

"And if he is going to America I would like to give him some work on an artificial surface first." Coral quote Mozart at 10 to 1 for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Owner Michael Tabor warned: "He has got pace to burn but the Breeders' Cup is a different ball game. The second and third could clash in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October.