THE 2008 Irish Flat season winds up at Dundalk tonight and Michael Kinane can bring the curtain successfully down with victory on board Dolphin Bay in the mile-and-a-half handicap.
The former champion has returned from riding in a challenge series in South Africa. However, one notable absentee is the champion jockey-elect Pat Smullen who has travelled to Los Angeles for a Grade One engagement with Winchester at Hollywood Park tomorrow night.
Smullen has ridden 90 winners in Ireland this year, six clear of his nearest rival, Fran Berry, with Johnny Murtagh finishing third in the table with 80. However, Murtagh comes out on top in terms of prize-money won in this country with a total of over €3.2 million.
No such distinctions are necessary in the trainers table, with Aidan O'Brien clear of his opposition. A total of 82 winners is 17 ahead of John Oxx, while a prize-money tally of just over €5 million in Ireland is almost double that of his nearest pursuer, Jim Bolger.
The Oxx team are represented tonight, though, with Adjaliya appearing to have a first-rate chance in the opening division of the juvenile maiden. Her third to Mazonia at Roscommon earlier this year contained some promise for the future.
Kinane can double up later with Dolphin Bay who reverts to the flat after a run over hurdles at Punchestown. The eight-year-old veteran is 8lb higher in the ratings for winning at Leopardstown last month in a race which he finished with real venom for Kinane.
Countess Petrushka is another that finished to real effect on her last start when overhauling Kaplinsky in the closing stages here last month. Wayne Lordan's mount is 5lb higher for that in the Sloan Rent-A-Loo and Enviromental Handicap (1m) but is worth persevering with.
