Cheltenham Festival

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Stallion Nomination To Be Auctioned In Aid Of Chris Kinane Appeal
05/09/05

A nomination to the stallion Danroad is set to be auctioned at Doncaster Racecourse on Wednesday (September 7) in aid of the Chris Kinane Trust Fund.

Danroad, who is currently at stud in New Zealand, is a Group 2-winning son of Danehill who will stand at Hedgeholme Stud in Co Durham for the 2006 breeding season.

The nomination is being donated by the Hong Kong Breeders Club, who will donate a sum equal to that raised at the auction to the Chris Kinane Trust Fund.

Henry Beeby, managing director of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales, will conduct the auction after the third race (run at 2.25pm) on Wednesday.

Chris Kinane suffered serious head injuries when kicked by a horse in the paddock at Wolverhampton on April 2 and underwent 12 operations in 14 weeks. The Trust Fund aims to give Chris and his family financial support throughout his rehabilitation. All the costs of running the Fund will be met by the trustees and if there is any surplus it will be donated to the Injured Jockeys' Fund.

Chris was assistant to Ian Williams when the accident happened and has spent his whole working life in racing, initially as a jump jockey riding for Josh Gifford before assisting Guy Harwood in the era of Dancing Brave and Warning. He was then private trainer to Geoff Hubbard, overseeing horses that included Cheltenham Gold Cup second Strong Promise.

John McGrath, racing manager to the Hong Kong Breeders Club, said today: "Everyone in the racing world was shocked by Chris Kinane's terrible accident and we hope that by auctioning the nomination to Danroad and then donating the same sum again, we can make a contribution towards Chris's rehabilitation."