Mick Kinane to call it a day.

It was a pleasure to meet Mick on his recent trip to SA and all the best for the future.

Kinane set to bow out of saddle on a high


MICK KINANE, whose profile has never been higher thanks to his stunningly successful partnership with Sea The Stars, looks set to follow that brilliant colt into retirement.

It emerged on Monday evening that an announcement to that effect may be imminent, although Kinane could not be contacted on his way home from Japan, where he rode at the weekend.

The 50-year-old jockey rebuffed questions on retirement that inevitably arose when Sea The Stars signedoff his dazzling career by winning his final race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in Paris eight weeks ago.

The highly celebrated rider said he wanted to fulfil commitments in South Africa and Japan, both of which are now gone, before entering any discussions about his future.

In a statement, Kinane said: "I have decided this is the right time to retire from race-riding.

"At 50 I still feel fit and sharp enough to do any horse justice but, after the season I have just had in partnership with Sea The Stars, I have the privilege of being able to end my career as a jockey on an incredible high and that's what I want to do.

"I leave with a huge sense of gratitude to all the great horses I have ridden, all the great trainers whose genius developed those champions and everybody else in racing, from the stable lads to the owners, who have made me deeply thankful for my involvement in the game.

"Teamwork is the key to success in racing and I have been blessed with some of the best alliances a jockey could have.

"The most important support of all throughout my career has, naturally, come from my wife, Catherine, along with my family and friends.

"Both Catherine and our two precious daughters, Sinead and Aisling, know how much they mean to me."



Kinane said: "Your first Epsom Derby success is very special so winning on Commander In Chief was a huge milestone.

"My Derby-Oaks double on Galileo and Imagine was also very special.

"Dermot Weld is a great man for breaking new ground so the Belmont and Melbourne Cup were both great achievements.

"I will just be a small-time farmer from next week. I have no great plans so am going to spend some time with my wife and family and take stock."

Kinane retires with nearly 1500 winners to his name

Below are some of his big race wins...


MICK KINANE FACTFILE

Born: June 22, 1959 in Tipperary.

Married: To Catherine, in 1982. Two daughters.

Father: Tommy, won Champion Hurdle on Monksfield in 1978.

Apprenticeship: With Liam Browne.

First winner: Muscari at Leopardstown on March 19, 1975.

Irish Champion apprentice: 1978.

Irish champion jockey: 10 times.

British Classic winners:

2000 Guineas: Tirol 1990, Entrepreneur 1997, King Of Kings 1998, Sea The Stars 2009.

Derby: Commander In Chief 1993, Galileo 2001, Sea the Stars 2009.

Oaks: Shahtoush 1998, Imagine 2001.

St Leger: Milan 2001.

Irish Classic winners:

1000 Guineas: Trusted Partner 1988, Yesterday 2003, Saoire 2005.

2000 Guineas: Dara Monarch 1982, Flash Of Steel 1986, Sea The Stars 2009

Oaks: Alydaress 1989, Dance Design 1996.

St Leger: Vintage Crop 1993 & 1994, Kastoria 2006.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners: Carroll House 1989, Montjeu 1999, Sea The Stars 2009.

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners: Belmez 1990, King's Theatre 1994, Montjeu 2000, Galileo 2001, Azamour 2005.

Breeders' Cup winners: Johannesburg (Juvenile) 2001, High Chaparral (2002 and 2003).

Melbourne Cup winner: Vintage Crop 1993.

Belmont Stakes winner: Go And Go 1990.

Other big winners:

Alandi (Pris du Cadran 2009), Alexandrova (Yorkshire Oaks 2006), Among Men (Sussex Stakes 1998), Azamour (St James's Palace Stakes 2004), Blue Duster (Cheveley Park Stakes 1995), Ballingarry (Canadian International 2002), Brief Truce (St James's Palace Stakes 1992), Cape Of Good Hope (Golden Jubilee Stakes 2005), Cezanne (Irish Champion Stakes 1994), Ciro (Grand Criterium 1999, Prix Lupin 2000, Secretariat Stakes 2000), Classic Cliche (Gold Cup 1996), Committed (Prix de l'Abbaye 1985), Definite Article (National Stakes 1994), Donna Blini (Cheveley Park Stakes 2005), Electrocutionist (Juddmonte International 2005), Fasliyev (Heinz 57 Phoenix Park Stakes 1999, Prix Morny 1999), George Washington (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2006), Giant's Causeway (St James's Palace Stakes 2000, Sussex Stakes 2000, International Stakes 2000, Irish Champion Stakes 2000, Prix de la Salamandre 1999), Grand Lodge (St James's Palace Stakes 1994), Hawk Wing (Coral-Eclipse Stakes 2002, Lockinge Stakes 2003), Kayf Tara (Gold Cup 2000), Kissing Cousin (Coronation Stakes 1994), Landseer (French 2000 Guineas 2002), Minardi (Middle Park Stakes 2000, Heinz 57 Phoenix Park Stakes 2000), Montjeu (Tattersalls Gold Cup 2000), Mozart (July Cup & Nunthorpe Stakes 2001), Mus-If (National Stakes 1998), Opera House (Coral-Eclipse 1993), Orpen (Prix Morny 1998), Pilsudski (Coral-Eclipse 1997, Champion Stakes 1997, Irish Champion Stakes 1997, Japan Cup 1997), Proclamation (Sussex Stakes 2005), Rock Of Gibraltar (Dewhurst Stakes 2001, Sussex Stakes 2002), Rose Gypsy (French1000 Guineas 2001) Saratoga Springs (Racing Post Trophy 1997), Scorpion (Coronation Cup 2007), Sea The Stars (Coral-Eclipse 2009, Juddmonte International 2009, Irish Champion Stakes 2009), Second Empire (Grand Criterium 1997), Sophisticat (Coronation Stakes 2002) Stravinsky (Nunthorpe Stakes 1999), Sunspangled (Fillies' Mile 1998), Volvoreta (Prix Vermeille 2000), Yeats (Ascot Gold Cup 2007).

Other information:

Kinane rode 17 Group or Grade One winners for trainer Aidan O'Brien in 2001. He also bred 2007 Derby winner Authorized

Kinane 'best Ireland has produced' - HRI chief


BRIAN KAVANAGH, chief executive of HRI, said Mick Kinane was the best jockey to come out of Ireland when paying tribute to the newly retired jockey.

He said: "Michael is without doubt the best jockey that this country has produced. His record of big race wins speaks for itself as does his loyalty and long service to his employers during his career.

"Michael changed the way in which Irish riders, and indeed Irish racing, were perceived worldwide and showed that Irish riders can more than hold their own internationally. He paved the way for a generation of Irish jockeys and acts as a wonderful role model for any young apprentice starting out.

"Professionalism and dedication, allied to a natural modesty, were his trademarks and throughout his career he was the man withthe nerve and talent for the biggest occasion."



Kinane's popularity with racegoers both at home and abroad, was right upthere during his heyday, according to Kavanagh, who added: "He was a particular favourite of Irish racegoers and punters who will remember his ice cool rides in all the major international races, but also his ability to light up the local circuit - a number of his rides at the Galway Festival spring to mind."



Denis Egan, chief executive of the Turf Club, was also fulsome with praise for Kinane. He said: "In a golden era for Irish jockeys, Michael was probably the best. No matter where he went in the world he was treated as a superstar and admired and respected.

"He always let his riding do the talking and it was so appropriate that he had such a successful year in 2009 with Sea The Stars which reminded everyone once again of his greatness. His winning ride on Sea The Stars in the Arc was one of his best ever because everyone wanted the horse to win and there was so much pressure on him but he delivered."

British trainers quick to lavish praise on Kinane


BRITISH trainers lined up to pay warm tribute to Mick Kinane, who announced his retirement after 34 years in the saddle on Tuesday morning.

The 50-year-old goes out on a high after partnering Sea The Stars to six Group 1 victories this season, including the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas, Investec Derby and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.


Kinane has said that Commander In Chief's 1993 Derby win was an "important milestone" in his career and that colt's trainer Henry Cecil was one of the first to honour the riding legend.

Cecil said: "Mick Kinane, in my opinion, was a brilliant, top-class jockey, a gentleman and a great ambassador for racing.

"He rode a number of good horses and quite a few Group 1 winners for me, including the Derby with Commander In Chief.

"Thank you, Mick. Racing will miss you on the racecourse."


Kinane won the 2,000 Guineas four times, the first coming in 1990, with the Richard Hannon-trained Tirol.

Hannon said: "I was so lucky to have him. Pat [Eddery], who rode Tirol in the Craven Stakes, was claimed to ride for Guy Harwood and Mick was only too pleased to ride him and he rode a brilliant race.

"He was a great jockey and the ultimate professional. He helped me out enormously over the years and kept his nose clean right the way through his career.

"Mick is a great man and a great friend as well. His retirement it is a sad day for the sport. He was as good as he's ever been this year.

"He is simply a world-class jockey and a gentleman who was professional in everything he did. A lot of young jockeys could learn from him."

Newmarket trainerMichael Jarvis praised Kinane's nerve on the big occasions, underlined when he rode the stable's Carroll House to victory in the 1989 Prix de l'Arcde Triomphe.


Jarvis said: "Michael gave us a memorable day when he won the Arc, one of many big-race wins in a long and distinguished career.

"Carroll House had come on for winning the Irish Champion Stakes and he'd had a smooth preparation, so we were delighted when the heavens opened and the ground came up soft. He gavehim a great ride, as he did so many horses. Mick was certainly the man for the big occasion and cool under pressure.

"He was a top-class jockey and has been a true professional in every sense and we all wish him well in his retirement."

So did Mick ride his last winner in South Africa?

Nearly positive he did..

You could be right in the last race?

What a CV! In between raising sheep and growing potatoes I hope he finds time to work on a biography.

The race for me was the win on Sea the Stars in France...magical.

Many sports personalities wait until there careers are at there lowest before retiring, Mick's timing is perfect.

There are few sadder things in sport than a washed up former great plodding on past the sell by date. He certainly won't be one of those.

Had a week of work Curtesy of Vintage Crop`s Melbourne Cup win,sure it was the first European winner?

Magic does that apply to Racing administators as well

PS. I mean WASHED UP not FORMER GREATS!!!