Racing: Swinburn succeeds in oneupmanship

WALTER SWINBURN dedicated his victory on Hatoof in Saturday's Beverly D Stakes in Chicago to the skill of British-based jockeys. 'I did it as an answer to Jerry Bailey,' Swinburn said.

Bailey, who rode Arcangues to success in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, suggested after that event that European jockeys 'bounce about in the saddle'.

On Saturday, Swinburn was bouncing with delight after he had steered Hatoof to a win over two of America's best riders, Chris McCarron, who partnered Flawlessly, and Alexis Solis on Potridee.

'This was a real mental 'up',' Swinburn said. 'It meant more to me than just winning the race. No disrespect to other American jockeys, but I don't think Jerry Bailey should have said what he did.'

As for Hatoof, Swinburn added: 'Hatoof is a special mare. I just kept Flawlessly in my sights and the filly did the rest.'

If Bailey needs any further proof, that jockeys based in Britain can ride with the best anywhere in the world, then he should look no further than their record in European Group One races this season.

Of the 42 Group Ones run this year, 20 have fallen to riders from these shores, with Willie Carson, Lanfranco Dettori, John Reid and Swinburn all with three of the best events to their name.

This compares very favourably with jockeys from France, who have 13 Group Ones between them, Ireland, who have four, Germany, three, and Italy, two.

Michael Kinane continues to be the finest international jockey from Ireland, and his triumph on King's Theatre in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes made him the first rider to collect over a million pounds in prize money for the owners of his Group One mounts this year.

In the Group One prize- money winners' table, Kinane has pounds 54,009 in hand of Willie Carson, whose future Group One prize-money earnings were dealt a blow by the retirement of the Derby winner Erhaab. Kinane is the strong favourite to head the table to the end of the season.

The Prix Morny at Deauville nine days ago was the 13th Group One to take place in France this season. Despite 18 British-trained horses, including Turtle Island, Muhtarram and Sayyedati, having tried their luck in nine of the 12 previous Group Ones, Hoh Magic's victory was the first that British trainers or jockeys had enjoyed at the top flight across the Channel.

----------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPEAN GROUP ONE RESULTS THIS SEASON ----------------------------------------------------------------- Jockey Country 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total M Kinane Irl 3 7 1 2 pounds 1,157,730 W Carson GB 3 4 3 1 pounds 903,721 L Dettori GB 3 4 3 2 pounds 778,020 J Reid GB 3 3 6 1 pounds 761,269 W R Swinburn GB 3 2 3 2 pounds 607,600 C Asmussen Fr 3 3 4 1 pounds 586,921 T Jarnet Fr 3 2 2 3 pounds 445,183 G Mosse Fr 2 - 2 2 pounds 401,454 Pat Eddery GB 2 1 - 4 pounds 317,109 T Quinn GB 1 - 2 - pounds 288,091 Trainer Country 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total H Cecil GB 3 3 2 1 pounds 879,090 J Dunlop GB 2 - 3 1 pounds 653,013 A Fabre Fr 3 3 4 7 pounds 578,610 H Ibrahim UAE 2 1 - 2 pounds 546,369 P Chapple-Hyam GB 1 2 5 - pounds 537,740 F Boutin Fr 3 2 2 1 pounds 506,893 M Stoute GB 2 3 2 - pounds 474,658 P Bary Fr 2 - 1 - pounds 369,308 P Cole GB 1 1 2 - pounds 353,209 H Jentzsch Ger 1 1 1 2 pounds 274,319 -----------------------------------------------------------------