Mick will forever be the man

By Alan Conway

We all search for perfection. Sadly for most of our lives the chase to find perfection is a useless pursuit. There are occasions however when perfection comes to us like a gift from the gods. Last weekend the Curragh paid tribute to, in my eyes, the perfect jockey Michael Joseph Kinane.

Kinane or “Mickey Joe” to everyone started his career with Liam Browne. In 1975 he had his first mount. It turned out to be a winning one. A sign of things to come I think you will agree. Browne took the raw talent that Kinane had and began to shape and mould him. 1982 would be the first landmark moment in Kinane’s career when he landed his first Irish classic on Dara Monarch for his boss. It would be the next move however that would shape Michael Kinane as a jockey and a man for the rest of his life.

In 1983 Dermot Weld snapped up the services of Kinane and their partnership would become feared throughout the racing world. It was a match made in heaven. Together they would win the Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop and remarkably the Belmont Stakes with Go And Go in 1990 along with a stack of big races in Europe as well. He would become a ten time champion jockey with Weld.

It was not only Weld who latched onto Kinane’s talent. He landed the Derby for Henry Cecil when he guided Commander In Chief to victory at Epsom. Sir Michael Stoute was also a huge fan of Kinane and like Weld he tasted success with Kinane all across the globe. Such was the regard that Kinane was held in that Godolphin even tried to tempt Kinane to become their stable jockey in late 1992. He declined and stayed loyal to Weld.

That loyalty was tested when Coolmore came calling. The temptation was too much for Kinane and in 1998 he joined forces with the Co Tippeary based outfit. An endless list of beautifully bred and highly talented horses were guided to victory by the steady hand and killer instinct that Kinane possessed.

The 2003 Breeders’ Cup Turf saw High Chaparral and Falbrav hook up once again. Their last meeting ended in controversy when Kinane rode Darryl Holland on Falbrav to sleep. This time there was an interloper in the shape of Johar. Kinane rode a masterful race and even though the race ended in a dead heat Kinane stole the show.

However it is his partnership with Sea The Stars that defines Kinane’s legacy, if ever a horse and jockey were made for each other it was this pair. From the Guineas through the Derby and ending at the Arc Kinane was vital to the success of Sea The Stars. All the experience and lessons that a 34 year old career can give you were distilled into that Arc ride. Many a jockey would have panicked in the same situation, trapped behind a wall of horses with nowhere to go. Yet behind those dark goggles you could see Kinane’s mind ticking over. In less time than it takes to read this the partnership were home and hosed and legendary status awaited.

The word greatness is thrown around far too often these days. But with 24 domestic classics to his name Michael Kinane, a gentleman off and on the course will always be remembered as a true great.

By Alan Conway