Rhapsody on song for Kinane The former English-trained Atlantic Rhapsody gave Michael Kinane his second Betdaq Irish Lincolnshire success at the Curragh this afternoon. Kinane, who previous win in the one-mile event was in 1982 on Uncle Dick for Liam Browne, struck on the 6-1 favourite, who was formerly trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston. Revitalised by a spell over hurdles for his new trainer Ted Walsh, the five-year-old was produced fast and late by Kinane to defeat the 14-1 chance Private Ben by three-quarters of a length with Mr Houdini third. 'He has loads of ability but thinks about the job a bit. We will continue to mix it with him, probably going next for another 100,000 Euro race next, the Powers Hurdle Final at Fairyhouse,' said Walsh. Ten years ago, Walsh won the first big handicap of the season with Alligator Joe. Kinane kicked off with victory in the opening five-furlong Betdaq Maiden on 11-10 favourite, the American-bred Tomahawk from the stable of his mainemployer Aidan O`Brien. A 2.5 million dollar purchase, Tomahawk made light of the soft ground to quicken three lengths clear of his main market rival Cat Belling, and was described by trainer O`Brien as 'precocious - a good colt in the making.' O`Brien and Kinane however suffered a reverse in the Betdaq Loughbrown Stakes when the odds-on Century City was just out-pointed by Barring Order which sparked a treble for local trainer John Oxx. Closely related to the O`Brien trained Group One Winning juvenile Beckett, Barring Order was 'fit and well' according to trainer Oxx who will bring this daughter of Barathea back to the Curragh next month for the Athasi Stakes before a possible crack at the Irish 1000 guineas. Oxx followed up with surprise victories for 14-1 chances Egyptian with Fran Berry up and Chartres in the hands of claimer Catherine Gannon who just got the better of stablemate Calorando, the 6-4 favourite in the seven-furlong Betdaq Maiden. Kinane completed a treble for himself and doubled up for O`Brien stable as 4-7 shot Maderno came from behind to land a Betdaq Maiden over six furlongs by three-quarters of a length from Lady Barbara. A full brother to the brilliant 1999 juvenile Fasliyev, Maderno suffered a back muscle injury last season that delayed his debut until this race. 'We always thought him a good horse and he`ll improve a lot from this run,' said O`Brien.
