Mick Kinane will after all ride Galileo in this afternoon's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot after securing a High Court injunction against a Turf Club suspension yesterday.
Kinane went to court after his appeal against a two-day ban, which would have stopped him riding Galileo, was dismissed by racing's regulatory body. It is the latest twist in a saga that began with the jockey's suspension 10 days ago.
Accompanied by senior counsel Mr Ercus Stewart, a grim-faced Kinane left the Turf Club at lunchtime after almost three hours in front of the stewards. However, that was not the end of the matter. The jockey's legal move allows him to ride Galileo, a red-hot favourite to maintain an unbeaten record in the £750,000 race.
His solicitor, Mr Andrew Coonan, said the interim injunction had been sought "because of the failure of the Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee to adopt the appropriate and agreed procedures in determining the appeal of Michael Kinane."
Mr Coonan said his client was "relatively pleased" with the decision of Judge McCracken, a move which allows Kinane maintain his association with Galileo. They won the Epsom and Irish Derbies on their last two starts. The Turf Club chief executive, Mr Brian Kavanagh, said last night: "There are two layers of inquiry and appeal, and both of those have been exhausted. As far as we are concerned, it is out of our hands."
The horse is owned by the Coolmore Stud owner, Mr John Magnier, and the French-based businessman, Mr Michael Tabor, and is trained by Aidan O'Brien in Co Tipperary. Mr O'Brien said: "Mick has made himself available for tomorrow's King George, through his own efforts. Obviously Mick knows the horse so it's great that he is riding him."
The court hearing, which will determine if Kinane is to have a rehearing of his appeal at the Turf Club, will not be held until August 15th. A notable loser in the affair is Kinane's colleague, John Murtagh, who gave evidence at the Turf Club appeal and was widely expected to substitute on Galileo if Kinane could not ride. Galileo, whose eventual stud value could reach £30 million, is regarded by Kinane as the best horse he has ridden.
