Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1)

DAVID Egan is a former champion apprentice in Britain, a classic winning jockey and firmly established as a top class rider having built up a very strong relationship with his long-time boss Roger Varian but remarkably he had never ridden a winner in Ireland up until last Sunday.

If you’re going to break a duck, you may as well do it in style and the 24-year-old did just that, partnering Eldar Eldarov (16/5) to a comprehensive win in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

You could see how much it meant to him passing the line and coming back to the winner’s enclosure where he was swamped by close family and friends.

“Eldar Eldarov is a horse that means a lot to me,” Egan reflected. “He was obviously my first classic winner and to do it for my boss, and KHK Racing (owners), it’s fantastic - there are so many people to thank,

“I lived just a stone’s throw away from the track. Anytime I come back to the Curragh, which is not very often unfortunately, I try to come the night before and get a bit of family time at home. So I came home last night and got a nice lie in this morning!”

The winner had been beaten on all three of his runs coming into the race but he had run creditably on each occasion and his trainer felt the move back to a mile and six furlongs suited.

Strongly

The son of Dubawi always seemed to be travelling strongly and when Egan asked him to go and win his race at the two-furlong pole, he answered readily, with the returning Kyprios failing to make any inroads late on, in what was admittedly a disappointing four-runner turn-out.

“It’s a great thrill to win a race like the Irish St Leger here at the Irish Champions Festival,” Varian said. “I’m delighted to see Eldar Eldarov winning again, he has run some good races in defeat, and it’s nice to win two Legers.

“He ran very well at York and at Goodwood last time. We don’t think he stayed the trip at Ascot (seventh in the Gold Cup). I’m delighted for Shaikh Khalid, a great supporter, he’s had to hang in there with this horse this year so I’m delighted he’s won for him today.

“David has been with us since he was 15, he has come up through the ranks and he has done really well. I’m delighted for him. His family are steeped in racing but he still needs to come out and do the job and he gave the horse a very straightforward, uncomplicated ride today so I’m delighted for David and it’s nice to see his family here supporting him today.”

On Eldar Eldarov’s future plans, Varian added: “He is entered up in the Cadran and on British Champions Day. I think we will consider Ascot at two miles. He seems to be best at a mile and six furlongs but there aren’t many of those races around. He will probably run one more time this year and I would say most likely it will be Ascot.”