The battle for the 2002 Irish Flat jockeys championship continued at Navan yesterday, where Michael Kinane drew level with John Murtagh after partnering a double aboard In The Limelight and Moonbi Ridge.
Kinane elected to make all on In The Limelight in the mile fillies maiden, and the daughter of Sadler's Wells was just pushed out from the furlong pole to beat Dimitrova by two lengths.
The 11 times champion moved onto the 69 winner mark for the campaign on Moonbi Ridge in the ten furlong conditions race, striking the front early in the straight to beat Laoch Na Mara by two lengths.
Murtagh is also on that total having earlier landed the mile and five furlongs maiden on the Newmarket Autumn Sales bound Hazarabad. The Aga Khan's home-bred Alzao colt was prominent throughout, and drew clear from over a furlong out to beat Mughas by five lengths. 'He's a big, strong horse, and was held up with sore shins since his first run at the Curragh in March,' said trainer John Oxx.
Michael Hussey ended a long losing run stretching back to the Galway Festival meeting when getting Annamoe Boy up in the final stride to touch off Roisin's Star in the nursery. Kinane put up a crucial 1lb overweight on the runner-up, and the photo-finish print showed the narrowest of margins between the pair.
Brief Affair was driven up on the far rail by Wayne Lordan to touch off Knockdromin Lady in a blanket finish to division one of the five furlong handicap. 'Wayne suggested bringing her back to this trip, and we may travel over to the all-weather in England with her,' said trainer Ger Stack. Division two also proved a triumph for the handicapper, with the Danny Grant-ridden Derek's Pride edging out Contradiction in the closing stages.
Lady Esther repeated her course and distance win of a fortnight ago when produced with a well-timed challenge on the outer by Declan McDonogh to beat Don't You Dare by a length and a half in the ten furlong handicap. 'She likes it here, and I will find another race for her before the end of the season,' said trainer Jim Gorman.
Alan Magee
