David Egan paid a touching tribute to Jack de Bromhead after winning the St Leger on Sunday.
In what was the 23-year-old jockey's first ever ride in a Classic, Egan swooped late on Eldar Eldarov to claim the Group 1 prize for trainer Roger Varian.
The Kildare native, who is the son of Irish Grand National-winning trainer Sandra Hughes, was left “gobsmacked” following the win.
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He said: “I was in the position I wanted to be, but I got a bump early in the straight. That almost helped me, though, as it woke him up, he wasn’t taking me into the race given how well he’d travelled throughout.
“He’s going to be a proper stayer. Ease in the ground helped and he hit the line really strong. It’s fantastic, a Classic, I’m gobsmacked, I don’t know what’s going on!
“I got a lovely clean run after that little bump and I was away from the trouble on the inside. It was straightforward – what a horse, he’s done nothing wrong, he just wasn’t suited to a mile and a half on quick ground in France but Onesto won and look how well he ran in Ireland.
“I lost the ride on Mishriff this year, but winning a Classic is something special.
“It’s a week since Jack de Bromhead passed away and he was who I thought about crossing the line. It’s been a sad week with Her Majesty dying.”
The son of trainer Henry de Bromhead passed away following a fall from a pony while riding at the Glenbeigh Festival in Co Kerry earlier this month.
Hundreds of mourners, including prominent figures from Irish horse racing, attended the funeral of the 13-year-old in Butlerstown, Co Waterford, last Wednesday.
Eldar Eldarov had plenty to do two furlongs from home in Sunday's race as Haskoy hit the front, with the 9-2 chance looking for a run in what was something of a messy race.
However, when Eldar Eldarov – winner of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and fourth last time out in the Grand Prix de Paris – found his path, he picked up in fine fashion for Egan, grabbing the lead inside the final furlong to win going away by two lengths.
Haskoy, who drifted towards the far rail at one stage and seemingly impeded Giavellotto, kept on for second with 11-8 favourite New London beaten a further half a length in third. Following the race the stewards deemed the interference Haskoy caused to Gaivellotto was serious enough for the filly to be placed fourth behind Marco Botti’s charge, with New London promoted to second.
Varian – winning the race for the second time after Kingston Hill in 2014 – said: “I quietly thought he had a real big shout today.
“Not everybody was wowed by his run in France last time out, but the winner (Onesto) went and pushed Luxembourg all the way in the Irish Champion Stakes.
“He had a tough race that day which is why he didn’t run again and he was only just getting going at the line in France. His run at Royal Ascot showed he had stamina in abundance and that race is proving a good trial for the Leger. He’s also handled soft ground as a two-year-old.
“So I knew he’d stay and handle the ground, it was whether he was good enough.
“Sometimes the longer you do something the harder things get, so it gets more satisfying. I think we’d only been training three or four years when Kingston Hill won the Leger so this is a very sweet success.
“I think we see him as a Cup horse next season, he’s blessed with stamina and has an admirable attitude. We brought him back to a mile and a half in France and he was only just getting going at the finish.
“If he stays sound we could have him for the next two, three or four years. I think he’s very exciting.
“I’m delighted for David, you won’t meet a nicer guy, he’s genuine, hard working and gracious in defeat while not being obnoxious in victory.”
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