No fairytale start for Kinane as Oxx runner unplaced
Kinane, who took up the post as Oxx’s stable jockey after parting company with Aidan O’Brien, had his first ride for the trainer on Aliyshan in the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit.
The Irish champion had Aliyshan in a challenging position turning for home in the 12-furlong event, but the lightly-raced filly was unable to maintain her effort down the straight and faded to finish unplaced.
John Hammond’s fast finishing Sweet Stream took the race, while Brian Meehan’s ninth-placed Imoya fared best of the six British-trained runners in the race.
Earlier in the afternoon, the German-trained Soave defied an 8lb Group-race penalty to win the Listed Prix Contessina.
Tom Tate’s Welsh Emperor was the well-backed evens favourite for the six-furlong sprint but he was unable to exploit his weight advantage as he weakened from a leading position over two furlongs out.
Charming Groom was travelling strongly, but Andreas Boschert always had his measure in the final furlong to guide Soave to a half-length win, with Vasywait in third.
Meanwhile, Godolphin have bought Snow Ridge, a leading fancy for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Vodafone Derby, for an undisclosed sum.
The two-old-year colt was trained by Marcus Tregoning to win two of his three starts in the season just finished.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, confirmed: “We have bought the colt and he will be coming over to Dubai in the next few weeks before he returns for a European campaign which will probably begin in the 2000 Guineas. His plan has not really been discussed at this point, but his initial race will be the Guineas.”
Snow Ridge was an impressive winner of a Kempton conditions event on his racecourse debut before stepping up to claim the Group Two Hackney Empire Royal Lodge Stakes on his next start.
The colt was a ninth behind Milk It Mick on his final start for the Weinstock family in the Dewhurst Stakes.
