Irish jockey John Egan celebrated his 35th birthday in style today when he teamed up with British raider Indian Haven to scoop the Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas, the first domestic Classic of the current campaign.
Supplemented at a cost of 40,000 following his unlucky effort in the Newmarket equivalent earlier this month the 8/1 shot seized the initiative at the distance and kept on well in the testing conditions to defeat Aidan O'Brien's France.
Dewhurst winner Tout Seul, winner of the valuable Tattersalls Breeders Stakes as a juvenile here last August, filled third spot for Ulster rider Steve Carson.
Former rider Paul Darcy, who rode over 200 winners mainly in Britain before setting up a training base at Newmarket with just two horses five years ago, was naturally overjoyed with the victory of Indian Haven.
'We have 30 horses in training and I hope to have a lot more after today. This was my first runner in Ireland and we bought him for #62,000gns at the Newmarket October Sales,' he said.
Reflecting on the disappointing effort (14th) at Newmarket, Darcy explained, 'I've no doubt had the starting stalls been positioned in the centre of the track we would have finished in the first four. To put it mildly he didn't enjoy the clearest of runs.'
Tomahawk, stable-companion of runner-up France, was all the rage in the ring beforehand tumbling form 9/2 to 100/30 fav but he could finish only 11th after coming under pressure approaching the two furlong pole.
Aidan O'Brien's Newton earned an quote of 8/1 from Cashmans for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot next month after the Danehill colt prevailed in the Marble Hill Stakes by half-a-length from outsider Moon Unit.
'He was very green the first day when he finished second and also green the second time when he won but he's improved with every run and looks an Ascot horse,' said the Ballydoyle maestro.
Warm favourite Steel Light, trained by Dermot Weld, failed to quicken when asked by Pat Smullen at the furlong pole and finished back in third just in front of British raider Holborn who set a strong pace until headed close home.
Mick Halford achieved another career milestone at his local track when he enjoyed his first Group success, compliments of Miss Emma in the G3 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.
Supplemented for 7,500 by his owner Anne Marie Watson, sister of the late John Dukan, the winner quickened up in the style of a good filly at the furlong pole and went steadily clear under Tadhg O' Shea to slam odds-on Captain Rio.
'I was very worried about Captain Rio but she had improved from her Naas win and I thought she might finish third and get the supplementary fee back. She could be an Ascot horse.' said a jubilant Halford.
Just one lucky winner scooped the Jackpot dividend of 19,440 after Tempter and Fran Berry won the 10f handicap while Livadiya and John Murtagh captured the penultimate leg in the hands of Johnny Murtagh.
