Kinane ends Ballydoyle link on a high

Michael Kinane celebrated his 13th Irish jockeys’ championship with a brilliant 355-1 four-timer on the last day of the season at Leopardstown today.

And he signed off as stable jockey to Aidan O’Brien by winning on his only two rides for the Ballydoyle trainer on Offenbach and Mikado.

It was announced on Friday that Kinane’s five-year reign as number one at Ballydoyle was over.

He is being replaced by Jamie Spencer, but Kinane has acquired another plum job by succeeding Johnny Murtagh at John Oxx’s stable.

Kinane showed his appetite for the game was as strong as ever by also scoring on Alexander Duchess and Scottish Memories.

The O’Brien newcomer Offenbach, who drifted out to 3-1, got the ball rolling for Kinane in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, beating the Dermot Weld-trained Khulasah by two lengths.

It gave the jockey 100 winners for the season.

Kinane completed a quick double on Alexander Duchess (9-2) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.

But it was only by a short head that the James Burns-trained youngster prevailed over Armanatta.

After being beaten into third place on 7-4 favourite Livadiya behind Bon Expresso in the Listed Knockaire Stakes, Kinane bounced straight back on 8-1 shot Scottish Memories in the Leopardstown November Handicap.

He drove the seven-year-old home by a neck from Swiss Roll, with Direct Bearing just a head away third in a blanket finish. Beef Or Salmon was a non-runner.

It was a tremendous training performance by Noel Meade as Scottish Memories was having his first race since finishing 11th to Rooster Booster in the Champion Hurdle in March and it was his first start on the Flat since July 2001.

Kinane and O’Brien ended their partnership on a high note when Mikado (4-5), a two-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells, followed up a smooth Listowel success by winning the Listed Eyrefield Stakes by a length and a half from Tarakala.

Pat Cosgrave ended the season as champion apprentice, ahead of Cathy Gannon.