David Egan reflects on memorable St Leger victory with Roger Varian's Eldar Eldarov after tough time for racing

At the end of an incredibly tough week for racing David Egan was pleased to be able to put smiles back on faces.

The sport was rocked to the core on September 4 with the news that 13-year-old Jack de Bromhead – son of prominent trainer Henry – had died from the injuries he sustained after falling off his mount at the Glenbeigh Racing Festival.

And then came the confirmation on Thursday that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – often described as being racing’s greatest supporter – had died at Balmoral aged 96 after reigning for 70 years.

Racing was suspended on Friday and Saturday across the country as a mark of respect to the Queen, with organisers pushing the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster back by 24 hours to Sunday afternoon.

A two-minute silence was impeccably observed prior to the action resuming at the Yorkshire track – and it was Egan that stole the headlines alongside his mount Eldar Eldarov as the pair combined to win Britain’s oldest Classic.

“It was such a sad week,” the Newmarket-based jockey reflected. “It was hard to contemplate how something like that could happen to someone so young in our industry.

“Jack’s funeral was huge and racing really came together. I said it at the time, he was the first person I thought about when I crossed the line.

“And with Her Majesty passing, someone that had such a love for horse racing, it was nice that we could all come together for the two-minute silence.

“I think she would have been keen for the racing to continue and it was great to have won the big race on the day.

“I never met her directly but I’d see her in the parade ring at Royal Ascot and you could see her enthusiasm for the sport.

“I rode a couple of winners for her that are trained by Richard Hughes and that is something I’ll remember forever, to have won in those famous colours.”

The weekend’s victory also carried a lot sentiment for Egan on a personal level given that it came on-board a horse trained by Roger Varian.

The handler, who operates out of Carlburg Stables on HQ’s Bury Road, took Egan on as an apprentice at the age of 16 and the pair have gone on to form a strong bond.

Now 23, Egan said: “When I first started with Roger he told me that with the high class of horses at the yard I wasn’t going to get lots and lots of chances right away.

“That was a big thing because it allowed be to get out there, ride for other trainers and really learn my trade.

“His real support came when I was getting towards losing my 3lb claim and that is when you need to be given the chance as an apprentice.

“Roger did that for me and thankfully since then the transition has been pretty smooth for us.

“This is what every jockey dreams of and why we all work so hard, to have days like that. It’s not lost on me that a lot of very talented jockeys don’t get the chance to ride in a Classic, let alone win one.

“To have my first Classic winner for someone like Roger makes it even more special.

“And that goes for everyone back in the yard as well. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the horse and it was a real team effort.”

Speaking after the victory, Varian hinted that the son of Dubawi, who was bred by the well renowned Kirsten Rausing, may not be finished for the year just yet.

The three-year-old holds an entry for next month’s QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, as do the likes of Kyprios, Trueshan and Stradivarius in what looks set to be a mouth-watering contest.

Egan believes there will be plenty more to come from Eldar Eldarov as the seasons go by, although the jockey is confident he could hold his own if the decision is taken to go up against some of those established names at Ascot.

“I’m sure a decision will be made on the long distance race at Ascot once we see how he comes out of Doncaster,” said Egan.

“He’s got an entry for the Melbourne Cup as well so it’s not like we don’t know where to go with him, there are a few options. With a horse like him – and stayers in general – you tend to let them tell you where they are going to go.

“He’s only three and that’s young for a stayer. They are still very juvenile at that age and if you look at the likes of Stradivarius and Trueshan, they really started to shine as they got older.

“I’m sure he’ll be comfortable in that company but there’s also a lot more to come.

“I knew he’d have a winning chance on Sunday and I’m sure it will be the same wherever he goes next.”