O'Brien lands Grade 1

RACING/News: Dual Irish Classic third Ballingarry dramatically spread-eagled his field by around four lengths to land the Canadian International, the latest leg of the World Series, at Woodbine on Sunday night.

Michael Kinane had Aidan O'Brien's charge in the box seat behind leader Yavana's Pace, trained by Mark Johnston, throughout the early exchanges in the mile and a half event.

As the field entered the straight, Kinane gave his mount the office and he quickly put daylight between himself and his seven rivals. Favourite Falcon Flight gave chase, passing Yavana's Pace in the straight, but failed to make a dent in Ballingarry's advantage.

The Irish Derby and St Leger third simply strode on past the line to land the £387,931 first prize and take 12 points in the World standings.

Johnston's other runner Zindabad, who finished third last year, could only manage fifth this time round two spots behind his stablemate. But the star of the show was Ballingarry who gave his trainer some consolation following the defeat of Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

After the Grade One event Kinane admitted he was pleased with the way the race panned out. "He's got plenty of stamina," the 11-time Irish champion jockey said. "The plan was to make it or sit very close to the lead depending on the pace.

"I knew Yavana's Pace would want to lead so I sat in behind because I knew my horse could pick up the pace. As we entered the straight I said 'go on' and he ran on really well."

Jimmy Mansell has been transferred to the chest unit of the University Hospital in Galway after suffering a setback in his recovery from injuries sustained in a fall at Ballinrobe in August. He had been recuperating in Castlebar Hospital after suffering serious head injuries in the incident before this setback.

But the Turf Club's medical officer Dr Walter Halley stressed it was not Mansell's head injuries which were the cause of this latest hitch. He said: "Jimmy has suffered a setback but it's related to his breathing and not to the head injuries suffered on the day. It's related to the trauma of the fall but it is to do with his chest." Mansell, the leading claimer here last season, is being monitored on a life-support machine.

Apprentice Gordon Power underwent surgery on his left eye on Sunday after an incident at Listowel on Friday. The 3lb claimer was injured when a piece of rail broke, flew back, hit him in the face and knocked him out of the saddle. He was taken to Tralee Hospital with facial lacerations and an eye injury before being transferred to Cork University Hospital for an operation.

High Pitched will miss the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere and will leave Henry Cecil's stable to continue his career in America.