Spencer favourite to take reins as Kinane parts company with O’Brien
Kinane, who will be crowned champion for the 13th time today, will replace Johnny Murtagh as first jockey to John Oxx. Murtagh has been plagued by weight problems and it will be no surprise should he call it a day.
“I suppose all good things come to an end, but we hope Mick will continue to ride for the stable when available,” said O’Brien:
“Mick has given our horses some wonderful rides over the years and his ride on High Chaparral in the Breeders’ Cup clearly demonstrated he has lost none of his strength, flair or determination. I’m sure he has many more good years in the saddle ahead of him and we wish him well.”
Today’s Leopardstown meeting is the final one of the flat campaign and Kinane will have his last two rides for O’Brien.
Kinane, 44, was to have been in France today to partner Magritte in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud, but O’Brien scratched the colt, who did not scope clear.
He has been the number one at Ballydoyle for the past five seasons, having previously been with Dermot Weld from 1984 until 1998.
During those years, Kinane and Ballydoyle enjoyed enormous success, particularly with Rock Of Gibraltar, Giants Causeway and High Chaparral.
But, by Ballydoyle’s very high standards, the current season has been a poor one and they have only enjoyed limited success outside of Ireland. Royal Ascot was a disaster and the two-year-olds, in the main, have failed to come up to scratch.
Speculation regarding Kinane’s future at Ballydoyle first began to surface after he had partnered Yesterday to an unlucky second placing behind Casual Look in the Epsom Oaks in June.
Yesterday repeatedly found her way blocked up the straight and by the time Kinane extricated her it was too late and she went down by a neck.
Speculation on a move had died down recently, making yesterday’s announcement all the more surprising.
Kinane rode two brilliant races of late on High Chaparral, in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, which seemed to have cemented his position with O’Brien for 2004.
Jamie Spencer emerged last night as the hot favourite to take over from Kinane.
Tipperary-born, he spent the early part of his career in Ireland, before moving to Britain.
He won the St Leger for Ballydoyle on Brian Boru at Doncaster in September.
Aidan O’Brien is also known to be a great admirer of Kieren Fallon, but Spencer is much younger and may be viewed as a better long-term prospect.
