RACING/Oaks report: Racing is a great leveller but rarely has anyone been levelled quite so thoroughly as Michael Kinane was in yesterday's Oaks.
Just 13 days after being lauded for an exceptional winning ride on Yesterday in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Kinane endured a Classic nightmare on the same filly, losing out by just a neck to Casual Look.
The look on Kinane's face as he returned to weigh in was many things but casual it was not. It was hard to blame him.
Yesterday was clearly the best filly in the race but was repeatedly denied a clear enough passage to make any debate about it superfluous.
After managing to negotiate the hill, the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly levelled out just behind the leaders with Kinane seemingly poised to attack whenever he liked.
But it was then that everything started to go wrong. On four occasions Kinane tried to negotiate Yesterday free for a clear run and each time the gap closed.
Maybe the predicament he had put John Murtagh in during the Guineas flashed through Kinane's mind but more likely it was desperate frustration at having so much in the tank and not being able to put the foot down.
When a gap finally appeared inside the final furlong, Yesterday accelerated impressively but had too much ground to make up in too little time.
"She ran well but things just didn't unfold her way," said Yesterday's trainer Aidan O'Brien whose Oaks nightmare didn't end there.
His other runner, L'ancresse, was all but pulled up after half a mile after meeting serious interference.
"Either she got a bump coming out of the stalls or she got a kick but she is all locked up behind," reported rider Kevin Darley.
O'Brien, however, was quick to nominate the Irish Oaks as a target for Yesterday and it's likely that Casual Look will turn up at the Curragh too.
The winner provided jockey Martin Dwyer and first season trainer Andrew Balding with career highlights that will take some topping.
Dwyer rode a treble on the day that came to 747 to 1 while Balding also saddled three winners in a streak that suggested fortune was very definitely on his side.
"I know I'm very lucky to win this in my first season," said 30-year-old Balding whose father Ian trained Mill Reef to win the 1971 Derby.
Casual Look's 64-year-old owner Will Farish is the US ambassador to Britain and a close friend of the American president George W Bush. He described the success as "the best of all." Farish added: "The last 50 yards were dreadful as I could see Yesterday closing all the time. It got so bad I could hardly stand up as they got to the finish!"
Kinane and O'Brien's day wasn't improved by Black Sam Bellamy's third in the Coronation Cup for which, like Yesterday, the Ballydoyle horse started favourite.
Black Sam Bellamy went down by half a length and a short head to the Clive Brittain-trained five-year-old Warrsan who pounced late under Philip Robinson.
"It's a triumph today - I can honestly say that!" exclaimed Brittain who has both Dutch Gold and Lundy's Lane in today's Derby. "This is the icing on the cake but we've got a two-tiered cake. If the ground eases Dutch Gold would have an outstanding chance," said the trainer who will aim Warrsan at the King George. Brittain's hope appeared to be granted with some rain during the day and Aidan O'Brien's verdict: "There is no excuse for any horse on that ground." But as the Oaks proved excuses can vary.
