Theatreworld ultimately won yesterday's Ardilaun Oyster Stakes by a snug length but as Michael Kinane was greeted in the winners enclosure with a shout of "well done Mick, that was the daddy of them all," it was clear the bare result didn't tell the full story.
If Theatreworld was remarkable yesterday, Kinane was awesome. The horse was 11 to 10 favourite but only at the finish did he look like it.
Slowly away, Kinane had to roust the veteran campaigner just to take up a position. Turning away from the stands, the ten times champion jockey was already hard at work and even at that stage the whip made an appearance.
All the way down the back, Kinane pushed and cajoled as General Cloney tried to dominate from the front but Theatreworld kept finding for the pressure. At the bottom of the hill, he suddenly hit overdrive, shot past General Cloney and My Lass and remarkably the final furlong became something of a procession.
A grinning Kinane returned patting his heart and indulging in fake staggers when he got off but although the style may be heartstopping, the form was enough for Aidan O'Brien to nominate the Group 3 Blandford Stakes as Theatreworld's next race.
O'Brien and Kinane had a much easier success in the following juvenile maiden when Ciro won by seven lengths with his mouth open crossing the line.
Another odds on favourite in Benovia bit the dust in the following Nursery however. The topweight Castleshane had far too much firepower in the straight and Benovia got run out of second by the outsider La Shalak.
Favourite backers were also out of luck in the opening novice chase. Caitriona's Choice looked to have the leader More Than A Stroll in his sights coming to the second last but he pecked badly on landing over the obstacle.
Caitriona's Choice got back on terms on the turn in but More Than A Stroll found a lot for Conor O'Dwyer's pressure and held on by a head.
Wonder Will He appeared to relax better in the lead and the Francis Flood trained horse couldn't be pegged back in the handicap hurdle.
