David Egan: Destined to be a Jockey

Born in Kildare, Ireland in 1999, David Egan is one of my favourite Flat racing jockeys. He was destined to be a jockey as racing runs right through his family. His mother Sandra Hughes trained Lieutenant Colonel who won the Christmas Hurdle and Thunder And Roses who won the Irish Grand National in 2015. 

His dad is of course jockey John Egan who won the July Cup with Les Arcs and recently won the Listed Chalice Stakes at Ascot on board the Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Love So Deep. In fact, his Grandfather was the legend himself Dessie Hughes, and then we have his uncle who is Richard Hughes, who himself was a magnificent jockey and is now making a name for himself as a trainer to be reckoned with. 

I think David has a lot to live up to but by the looks of things, he is well up to the task. 

David Egan rode out his claim back on June 2018 onboard Keeper’s Choice at Newbury. Since then David has gone from strength to strength winning some big races including a brilliant ride on the Cheveley Park owned Pilaster who won the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood in August 2018 for Roger Varian and another one for his boss Roger Varian is the impressive Daahyeh who won the Group 2 Albany Stakes at Ascot this year and went on to finish second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Group 1 race at Santa Anita ridden by William Buick this time. 

As you may know, I love 2-year-old racing but I really don’t like betting on a first timeout 2-year-old as you never know what will happen when an unraced horse hits the track. One statistic that did interest me about David Egan was the nice first timeout winners he rides for Roger Varian when under 10/1. 

His first unraced 2-year-old since losing his claim was Ideological back in September 2018 at Kempton. David gave the well-supported newcomer a perfect ride by settling her at the rear until she found her feet and won going away in the end. Bayroot was another peach of a ride by David Egan. Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Exceed And Excel colt was 8/1 for his debut at Kempton and it was the same again by David. Bayroot was settled in the rear before making headway and staying onto win by a length. 

One owner that likes to use David Egan is Mr Nurlan Bizakov. David rode two nice unraced 2-year-olds for Mr Bizakov back in 2018. The first was Nausha who made her debut at Newbury back in October 2018. The Kingman filly was sent off 11/4 joint-favourite. David again rode the perfect race and won cosy in the end. Nausha went on to win a Group 3 race at York that season. Next up was Lastochka, the Australia filly who funnily enough won the same day and again David held Lastochka up before delivering her with a strong run to win by a neck at the Kempton evening meeting. 

I think I have saved the best unraced Roger Varian horse that promising jockey David Egan rode on debut. Pierre Lapin was purchased for a 140,000gns in October 2018 for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and made his debut in May this year. Pierre Lapin was sent off the even-money favourite and David Egan did what he does best with unraced 2-year-olds and brought him into the race in his own time before Pierre Lapin quickened clear to win comfortably in what was an impressive run and has since gone on to win the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.  

Conclusion: As I said it’s a gamble with unraced 2-year-olds but when you see David Egan on a Roger Varian debutant under 10/1 give it a second glance as it could be worth the gamble. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.