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Edward whitaker
“title =” Galileo Chrome (Tom Marquand, right) beats Berkshire Rocco and Santiago (left) to win St Leger “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https: //www.rp-assets . com / images / news / 2020/09/12/82501-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/12/82501-medium .jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/12/82501-large.jpeg “data-br-w =” https: // www .rp-assets.com / images / news / 2020/09/12/82501-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/ 12/82501-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
By David Carr
Tom Marquand’s uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time paid off dramatically with the success of St Leger in Galileo Chrome, a horse he hadn’t even ridden a day before.
As soon as Marquand had passed the post, he was expressing sympathy for Irish rider Shane Crosse, who was denied a chance to land a first British classic after testing positive for coronavirus.
Marquand was free, as his partner, English King, had previously been flown to the Paris Grand Prix, but no one should be surprised by the last lucky turn of his events in a great season for the 22-year-old.
It started when he found himself in Australia while all races were closing in Britain and he took the opportunity to make a name for himself, particularly with the first ever Group 1 winner of his career.
When the action resumed at home, Marquand faced English King, who at the time was the Derby favorite, only to take second place at Epsom with his stablemate Khalifa Sat.
Once again, he made the most of the opportunity presented to him in Galileo Chrome, an improving colt that had won all three Irish starts for Joseph O’Brien in 2020.
Always in touch in a race in which seven of the runners were virtually in line for two starting furlongs, he sent the shot 4-1 in front of a home furlong and took it out to score by a neck.
Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Tom Marquand pats St Leger winner Galileo Chrome “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/ 2020/09/12 /82506-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/12/82506-medium.jpeg “data-br -m = “https: //www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/12/82506-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com / images / news / 2020/09/12/82506-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/09/12/82506-large. jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
That made O’Brien, a successful rider at Leading Light in 2013, the first man since Harry Wragg to ride and train a Leger winner.
Marquand didn’t try to hide his excitement afterward, saying, “It’s probably the most clichéd thing that can come out of my mouth, but they really are dreams come true.”
“The classics in Britain are some of the toughest races to find, the Group 1 races in Britain are equally difficult. Having my first winner on British soil at St Leger for Joseph O’Brien, who in my day was one of top riders and now he’s training and doing similar work – it’s amazing to have an opportunity like this. “
But he added: “I can’t stress enough how bad I feel for Shane because we’ve all been in a situation where things haven’t turned out the way we want and we’re both relatively young so I can really relate.
“He’ll be sitting at home in pieces for sure and I guess the only thing about racing is that he always comes back, so he’ll definitely have his day. I hope to see him do it.”
Reflecting on his year, Marquand said: “Time and time again everything has fallen my way. It’s amazing how racing works everything. I lost English King in the Derby and I won Khalifa Sat and finished second.
“Then I got English King back for today and he ended up going to France for a more favorable race and I can’t go there because I would have to do the quarantine the week after. And the Shane Crosse misfortune, luckily for me, ended up on my lap. . “
Marquand’s partner, Hollie Doyle, has been making headlines as of late, especially when she became the first woman to ride one five times in Britain last month.
“We are both very fortunate to be in the position that we are in,” he said. “Having the career that we have had for the past few years and we are both extremely proud of each other’s accomplishments. May the family continue on this path!”
Berkshire Rocco gave Andrew Balding a lot to shout about as he led for two furlongs and fought the winner to the line.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, he kept digging but it wasn’t enough,” said the coach. “It gave us all great excitement. I have to say I don’t scream very often, but I had a good scream today! It’s really exciting because it’s a race we all want to win.”
Voltigeur Stakes big winner Pyledriver finished third on this step and jockey Martin Dwyer said: “He ran a great race but he didn’t stay, he was too far away.
“After York I said I could go back to a mile and a quarter. I thought I would win turning, but he was tired in the last stadium, he was out of his comfort zone.”
The drying field was calculated to be against the Irish Derby winner, whose jockey Frankie Dettori said: “Santiago probably wants a bit of ground cutting. He came there to win, but he wasn’t leveling out like I thought.”
Owen Burrows also pointed to a lack of stamina after Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner Hukum finished fifth with Jim Crowley.
“He probably didn’t make it home,” the coach said. “Jim was happy, but in the last stadium and a half he was a little crazy. He stayed in Newbury, but in less company; in this class, it was a little too far for him.”
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FIRST POST 3:49 PM, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
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