No Kentucky Derby for Kinane, Appeal Denied

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Irish jockey Michael Kinane won't ride Johannesburg in the Kentucky Derby after losing his appeal Friday against a seven-day racing ban.
The Jockey Club's Disciplinary Committee upheld the suspension given to Kinane for "irresponsible riding" on Sahara Desert during the Boadicea Conditions Stakes at Newmarket on April 18.

The committee ruled that Kinane "maneuvered to his right at a time when (Pat) Eddery was alongside him and when it should therefore have been obvious to him that interference was the result." Kinane said he moved Sahara Desert into a gap and the interference occurred when his mount drifted to the right, according to the Racing Post.

A one-day reduction of the suspension would have allowed Kinane to ride in the Derby. Now he will return that Sunday, when the Sagitta One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) is renewed at Newmarket.

"I went to the toilet and by the time I got back they had reached their decision so it couldn't have taken them that long," Kinane told Racing Post. "One thing's for sure, I won't be suffering from jet lag on 1,000 Guineas day. I'll probably use some of the time off to go out to Germany for the second leg of the Manchester United game.

"Of course it's a disappointment but it wasn't to be and I'm worn out trying to explain it now. I don't know who will be riding Johannesburg, there's plenty of jockeys out there."

The report says Kinane will not seek a court injunction of the appeal as he did last year to enable him to ride Galileo in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I). "It's a different case," he told the Racing Post. "That's the end of the matter now."

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