Horse Racing: The race for what is possibly the most coveted job in racing began yesterday evening with the confirmation that Michael Kinane is to split from Aidan O'Brien and leave his post as number one jockey at Ballydoyle.
Kinane, 44, who is already assured of his 13th Irish jockeys' championship, will have his final rides for O'Brien at Leopardstown this afternoon, the last fixture of the 2003 flat season.
Kinane confirmed the move after days of speculation and rumour - not the first such whisperings to feature in the working relationship between the champion jockey and O'Brien.
Earlier this year, speculation in the British press centred on the possibility of Kieren Fallon taking over at Ballydoyle. However that was firmly discounted at the time by O'Brien.
"There will come a time when Mick doesn't ride for us but right now he is our jockey and we are very happy about that," O'Brien declared.
Kinane could not be contacted for comment yesterday but in a statement, O'Brien said: "I suppose all good things come to an end but we hope that Mick will continue to ride for the stable when available.
"Mick has given our horses some wonderful rides over the years and his ride on High Chaparral in the Breeders' Cup clearly demonstrated he has lost none of his strength, flair or determination."
Galileo's success in the 2001 Epsom Derby was one of the highlights of a five-year partnership between O'Brien and Kinane.
Kinane also won the Irish Derby and the King George on that colt, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Johannesburg, the Oaks on Imagine and the St Leger on Milan, all in 2001.
Kinane picked wrong in the Derby the following year as High Chaparral beat Hawk Wing but was back on High Chaparral for the Irish Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf.
He was also widely praised for the ride he gave High Chaparral in the Breeders' Cup just three weeks ago as the colt snatched a dead heat with Johar in the Turf.
Along with the number one post at Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin, the Ballydoyle job is the most valuable in European racing and already the rumour mill has gone into overdrive, suggesting that Jamie Spencer could replace Kinane.
Just 23, and a native of Co Tipperary, Spencer won this year's Doncaster St Leger for O'Brien on Brian Boru and has experienced other Group One success for the trainer in the past on Ballingarry and Sequoah.
Kinane intends to continue as a freelance this season but before that he needs just one winner at Leopardstown today to notch up the seventh century of winners in his career.
O'Brien supplies two rides, Offenbach in the opener and the likely favourite Mikado in the Eyrefield Stakes.
