Kinane relishing Ambassador role

YOU would be forgiven for thinking that nothing could ruffle a man who was arguably the best in the world at settling a half ton of excitable horseflesh, then pushing and cajoling it through tiny gaps at 40mph on undulating surfaces, while surrounded by similar partnerships chasing the same space, and doing all that in front of millions of people worldwide.

Nerves of steel, as well as other anatomical parts of similar composition, helped Michael Kinane become the only jockey to boot home the winners of all the European Group 1 races, as well as many major international races in America, Australia, Dubai, Japan and Hong Kong.

It would be unfair to say that being introduced to the world of Facebook and Twitter has reduced the 50-year-old Killenaule native to a quivering wreck but there is no doubt that the thoughts of frequenting the social networking scene as part of his new role as Horse Racing Ireland’s Flat Ambassador are daunting.