Kinane to skip Hong Kong Derby meeting at O’Brien’s call
MICK KINANE
Jockey Mick Kinane will return to Ireland from Hong Kong this week,
missing the Derby meeting at Sha Tin racecourse on March 23 after
Coolmore trainer Aidan O’Brien summoned him home.
‚The boss wants me back to ride a couple of his nice three-year-olds in
their classic trials at the Curragh next weekend,‘ Kinane told the
South China Morning Post. ‚It’s a shame to miss the Derby and the
Centenary Sprint Cup next weekend, but my first commitment must be to
Aidan.‘
Kinane, who has ridden Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) third-place finisher
and possible Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Hold That Tiger, won the Yan
Oi Tong Cup aboard Sunbell on Sunday in Hong Kong. The jockey said he
has put in a strong recommendation for O’Brien to consider sending his
top older horses to compete at Sha Tin’s International Day in
December.
‚[I’d] love to get here with Hawk Wing for the International Cup
(HK-G1) and High Chaparral (Ire) for the Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1),‘
Kinane said. ‚If those horses got here in top form, they’d give both
races a mighty shake.‘
Last year, High Chaparral won the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) en route to
champion grass horse honors. Hawk Wing finished seventh in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), his first race on dirt.
