Michael Kinane brought his tally to five winners in the space of just over 24 hours when recording a 57.5/1 treble aboard Day Of The Cat, Key To The Kingdom and Flying Boat.
Day Of The Cat was confidently expected to take the two-year-old maiden following a promising debut at Naas last week, but the Aidan O'Brien-trained 1/2 chance made heavy weather of landing the odds. Kinane needed to get serious at the furlong pole, producing the Storm Cat colt between Blue Crush and Solved to score by three quarters of a length and a head.
Kinane was again seen to good effect in the nine furlongs handicap when getting Key To The Kingdom up in the final 50 yards to beat Avec Plaisir by half a length. 'That was a good ride by Mick. He will probably run at the Festival meetings, and someday might jump a hurdle,' said trainer Declan Gillespie.
The reigning champion had the stewards to thank for victory with Flying Boat in the seven furlongs handicap. Tigim and Flying Boat were locked in battle from over a furlong out but, when the former's rider Michael Hussey decided to change his whip from his left to his right hand, the four-year-old gelding ducked left and bumped his rival about 70 yards out.
Kinane had to dramatically snatch up near the post as his mount was hampered again, but it took the stewards about 15 minutes deliberation before changing the result. Hussey was found guilty of careless riding, and suspended for three days (July 5, 7 & 8), while the treble moves Kinane three ahead of John Murtagh in the jockeys' championship (32-29).
Tommy Stack, who landed the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas with Tarascon, saddled her first foal Beucaire to take the fillies maiden under Wayne Lordan. The daughter of Entrepreneur made virtually all in this nine furlongs event, and stayed on gamely to hold off Beautiful Hill by half a length.
The Grand National winning rider, who trains less than ten miles away and is also a director at the course, said, 'It was important to get her a win, and we will try her in a Listed race next. Tarason has a few nice horses to come, and is currently in foal to Rock Of Gibraltar.' Incidentally, Stack's Good Day Too runs in a Grade 2 over a mile and a half at Arlington tomorrow (Saturday), and will continue his racing career in California.
Alan Magee
