Mick Kinane yesterday failed in his last-ditch bid to win back what he had described as the 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to ride Johannesburg in the Kentucky Derby.

Kinane, who was suspended for major irresponsible riding at Newmarket, England, last week, had his appeal against the ban rejected yesterday at a special hearing of the Jockey Club stewards.

The seven-day suspension includes the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs a week today, when Kinane had been due to partner the Aidan O'Brien-trained Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner.