Horse Racing: Kinane eyes Group One glory in France
Michael Kinane is eyeing Group One glory in France tomorrow after he took the honours on the last day of the Irish Flat season at Leopardstown with a 130-1 treble.
However despite scoring on Shoal Creek (3-1), Tortue (11-2) and On The
Nile (9-2), he failed to land his 12th Irish title, going down by 81-78
to Pat Smullen.
Smullen struck first on Sun Seasons in the Bracken Maiden by a whisker
for his boss Dermot Weld.
But Kinane signalled his intention not to go down without a fight when 3-
1 favourite Shoal Creek romped away with the Knockaire Stakes and an hour
later Tortue (11-2) also justified market support with an equally
emphatic win in the Carmanhall Handicap.
Kinane, the 11-times titleholder, followed up aboard On The Nile (9-2)
in the Eyrefield Stakes with two races to go, but it was not enough.
Smullen could relax and afterwards was celebrating retaining his title
with fiancee Frances Crowley, whom he marries on Tuesday.
‘‘Other than winning Group Ones, keeping the title has been very
important for me. I have always wanted to be champion from the time I
started out in racing and it’s great to be ending the season in front
again,’’ said Smullen.
Smullen heads back out for another winter session in Dubai next
Wednesday.
But tomorrow, Aidan O’Brien who was champion trainer both in Ireland and
Britain this term, has his final European runners in France with three
colts declared for the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Kinane rides Racing Post Trophy runner-up Castle Gandolfo with the trio
completed by Ballingarry (Jamie Spencer) and Galileo’s brother Black Sam
Bellamy, with O’Brien seeking a jockey as Johnny Murtagh is unavailable.
O’Brien supplied both of Kinane’s Listed winners, with Shoal Creek
probably earning a trip to Hong Kong next month after getting back on the
winning trail.
‘‘Shoal Creek is Bach’s working companion at home and with Bach going
for the Hong Kong Cup next month we may now send Shoal Creek as well for
the Mile,’’ O’Brien said.
On The Nile considerably enhanced her paddock value when stepping up
both in form and trip in the nine furlongs Eyrefield Stakes.
‘‘On The Nile loved the strongly-run race and is only getting fit now.
She is a three-part sister to Kutub and should do well next season,’’
O’Brien added.
