RACING: What had been billed as a last-day duel turned into a one-man show when Michael Kinane rode three winners to become champion jockey for the 12th time. Level with John Murtagh on 76 winners going into the finale of the Flat season, Kinane quickly took the initiative in the first two races.
By the sixth race Murtagh still hadn't responded and Yesterday's defeat of Eklim in the Eyrefield Stakes settled it for definite in Kinane's favour.
In the winner's enclosure, Murtagh playfully put his hands around his great rival's neck as they posed for photographs. The photographer's requests for "more craic" was greeted by Murtagh with: "After pushing six of them around, all the craic has left me!"
Afterwards Kinane said: "I thought I had a strong book of rides today but then there was a scare that racing might be called off. I have an outstanding job that I really enjoy and I just hope I can stay injury free. Our horses peaked at the end of the season which has helped a lot."
Asked for a highlight for 2002, Kinane declared: "I think Rock Of Gibraltar was outstanding. It was a pleasure to be associated with him. It was just unfortunate things didn't go our way in Chicago. But there's a lot to look forward to with horses like High Chaparral staying in training."
Aidan O'Brien, who topped the trainers table for the year with almost €2.5 million in prize money, supplied Yesterday and also Salt Lake City which won the opener. "Mick's a happy man now. It was a big effort by him to win three today," O'Brien said.
In contrast, Murtagh only managed runner-up placings in the first and sixth races.
Kinane's gap over his nearest rival in the prize-money total was much more clear cut. The Co Tipperary-born rider won over €2 million this year, nearly double that of Pat Smullen.
O'Brien topped the trainers table financially but his 60 winners paled compared to John Oxx's 79. However, in terms of the future, possibly the most significant performance yesterday came from Yesterday who destroyed her field in the Eyrefield.
Quarter Moon's sister impressed O'Brien who reported: "She is a good filly who took a little time to learn how to behave but she is going the right way now. Mick said the last day at Newmarket that she was only coming to herself."
Salt Lake City's only danger came when he drifted alarmingly right in the closing stages, a move that O'Brien put down to the colt still being "very raw". The only thing raw after the November Handicap were punters feelings as the 20 to 1 outsider Bubble N Squeak came out on top under the claimer Seán Cleary.
Trainer Francis Flood's other runner, The Culdee, was half his stable companion's price but it was Bubble N Squeak that held on from Queen's Wharf and the fast finishing favourite Beef Or Salmon.
The second of Kinane's winners was the 12 to 1 Bermaho who pounced late on the outside to lift the Nursery by half a length from Woodstamp.
Eddie Ahern missed out on a Listed winner in the Knockaire Stakes due to transport difficulties from the airport.
Kevin Manning stepped in for the ride on Just Special who ran on well up the rail to overhaul the pace-making Tarry Flynn by half a length.
Curragh trainer Jim Gorman wound up his Flat campaign with a winner as Nutley King beat the Kinane-ridden Mr Houdini in the mile handicap.
The last race of the season fell to the new champion apprentice, Tadhg O'Shea, who kicked Golden Cross clear in the closing stages of the mile and a half handicap.
Born: June 22nd, 1959
First Winner: Muscari, Leopardstown, 1975
Champion Jockey: 12 times
Best Total: 115 in 1993
Big Wins 2002: High Chaparral (Irish Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf), Rock Of Gibraltar (Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Prix du Moulin), Landseer (French 2,000 Guineas), Sophisticat (Coronation Stakes), Hawk Wing (Eclipse Stakes).
Major International Wins: Go And Go (1990 Belmont Stakes), Vintage Crop (1993 Melbourne Cup), Pilsudski (1997 Japan Cup).
Epsom Derby Wins: Commander In Chief (1993), Galileo (2,000)
Arc De Triomphe Wins: Carroll House (1989), Montjeu (1999)
Breeders' Cup Wins: Johannesburg (2001 Juvenile), High Chaparral (2002 Turf).
