Kinane approached for Arcs ride

Mick Kinane has been approached by connections of leading sprinter Les Arcs to partner the six-year-old in the final two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge in the Far East.

The Golden Jubilee and July Cup winner has struck up a fine partnership with John Egan this season but as Egan has been refused permission to ride in either Japan or Hong Kong, a new pilot is required.

Egan was one of 19 people arrested in connection with a race-fixing investigation four years ago and failed to honour bail conditions set out by the Independent Commission Against Corruption which has left him unable to ride in the Far East.

There had been a doubt as to whether the gelding would make the trip without his regular jockey but trainer Tim Pitt has now confirmed that the journey is definitely on.

“We will definitely go to Japan,” Pitt revealed. “I have confirmed it with the Japan Racing Association. We are looking at jockeys and we have made an approach to Mick Kinane but obviously it is around Arc time as well.

“There are other riders floating around but he is the first choice. Mick has ridden winners in Hong Kong and Japan and to have someone with his international experience would obviously be a huge bonus,” Pitt told The Sportsman.

“He is in very good form. He won’t start again here. We made a conscious plan after the July Cup to go straight to Japan with him and give him a break.

“We are just starting to pick him up again now and it would be a rush to go to Haydock for the Sprint Cup (September 2).”