Michael Kinane is fast closing in on a 13th Irish Flat jockeys' championship, and stretched his lead to 18 over nearest rival Pat Smullen when completing an 80/1 treble at Fairyhouse yesterday afternoon.
The James Burns-trained Alexander Duchess proved the easiest winner on this eight race card, quickening clear in the final furlong to beat Sahara Sonnet by a very comfortable four-and-a-half lengths in the two-year-old fillies maiden. 'Mick said she won with a good bit in hand. She may have another run this year but is certainly one to look forward to for next season,' said the Curragh trainer.
Kinane's other two winners came on the Noel Meade-trained pair Twogoodreasons and Dashing Home to leave him on the 87 mark for the season. Twogoodreasons and Edaliya dominated the market for the six furlongs maiden, and they filled the first two placings as Meade's charge gained a vital advantage inside the final furlong before holding on by a fast-diminishing neck.
Dashing Home was fitted with stick-on shoes for a recently detected foot problem and that, coupled with a strong ride from Kinane, helped to get the dual-purpose four-year-old up in the closing stages for a short-head verdict over Somethingforsunday in the mile and a half handicap.
Smullen did strike back later on when Trusted Instinct led inside the final quarter mile to beat the staying-on newcomer Grand Quest by half-a-length in the ten furlongs maiden.
Helen Keohane has struck up a great association this season with Girl Wonder, and the pair successfully teamed up for the third time in 2003 when making all in the seven furlongs Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Dermot Murphy's charge, in action since the first week of April and whose proved a model of consistency through the season, kept on gamely from the front to beat Lover's Mission by half-a-length. 'I thought she had a chance on the fast ground, and seven furlongs seems to be her trip. That could be her final run if the ground changes as we plan to cover her next year,' said the Rathangan permit-holder.
On this so called 'industry day', the few racegoers who did turn up only wanted to know about one horse in the opening nursery. The top-weight Amourallis was supported from 9/2 down to 5/2 but could only manage fifth place behind unconsidered 20/1 chance Jacaranda Blue, who paid 155.50 for a win on the Tote.
The in-form Killenaule apprentice Michael Cleere recorded his third winner in seven days, and his fifth in total, when switching the Entrepreneur filly off the far rail over a furlong out to beat the staying on Endless Peace by two-and-a-half lengths.
Alan Magee
