Another twist of fate hands jockey Tom Marquand the St Leger

TOM Marquand counted his blessings after fate contrived to give him a first domestic Classic triumph in the Pertemps St Leger on Galileo Chrome at Doncaster.
Tom Marquand with the Pertemps St Leger trophy after Galileo Chrone won the world's oldest Classic.Tom Marquand with the Pertemps St Leger trophy after Galileo Chrone won the world's oldest Classic.
Tom Marquand with the Pertemps St Leger trophy after Galileo Chrone won the world's oldest Classic.

TOM Marquand counted his blessings after fate contrived to give him a first domestic Classic triumph in the Pertemps St Leger on Galileo Chrome at Doncaster.

When the four-day meeting began on Wednesday, the 22-year-old rising star had been booked for English King – but when it became apparent that horse would be heading for the Grand Prix de Paris on Sunday, he was without a ride again.

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But as happened in this year’s Derby – when he lost the ride on English King and was snapped up instead for Khalifa Sat and was second on Andrew Balding’s 50-1 outsider – there was a twist in his favour.

Tom Marquand with St Leger winenr Galileo Chrome.Tom Marquand with St Leger winenr Galileo Chrome.
Tom Marquand with St Leger winenr Galileo Chrome.

As Marquand arrived at the start on Sacred before Doncaster’s Flying Childers Stakes on Friday, he was told he was going to partner Galileo Chrome for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien after Shane Crosse had tested positive for Covid-19.

He had to pinch himself, but it turned out to be a dream of a spare ride as Galileo Chrome beat Berkshire Rocco in a thrilling finish as Joseph O’Brien joined an elite group to have ridden and trained a winner of the St Leger.

Marquand shows maturity and ability way beyond his years – and to win the world’s oldest Classic, founded in 1776, was just reward for his talent. He said: “I can’t say how bad I feel for Shane Crosse – because we’ve all been in situations where things haven’t gone our way, and we’re both relatively young – so I can relate, and he’ll be sat at home in pieces, no doubt.

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“I guess in racing it all comes back round. No doubt he’ll have his time, and I look forward to seeing him do it. I’ve never met Shane in person. We’ve both only been riding a relatively short time – and I guess, without the restrictions over the last few months, he’d have been over here and I would have come across him.

This is Galielo Chrome winning the St Leger under Tom Marquand.This is Galielo Chrome winning the St Leger under Tom Marquand.
This is Galielo Chrome winning the St Leger under Tom Marquand.

“It really is a dream come true. Classics in Britain are some of the hardest races to come across. Group One races in Britain are equally hard.

“To have my first Group One winner on UK soil in the St Leger for Joseph O’Brien who, when I was growing up was one of the best jockeys in racing, is mind-blowing.”

Marquand spent a lot of this winter in Australia, and enjoyed a highly-successful time with two Group One successes. Apart from the odd minor blip, 2020 has continued to be the year of a lifetime – despite the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “Time and time again this year, it’s all fallen my way,” he said.

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“I had a few minor bumps in the road, but I wouldn’t mind the rest of my career going that way. It’s incredible how racing works everything out. I lost English King in the Derby but rode Khalifa Sat for Andrew Balding and finished second.

John Quinn's Safe Voyage (right) was victorious for Yorkshire at the Irish Champions Weekend meeting.John Quinn's Safe Voyage (right) was victorious for Yorkshire at the Irish Champions Weekend meeting.
John Quinn's Safe Voyage (right) was victorious for Yorkshire at the Irish Champions Weekend meeting.

“I got English King back for today, and he has ended up going to France for a more favourable race (for him).

“Obviously I couldn’t go there, because I would have to do a week’s quarantine afterwards – which wasn’t something I could do – and Shane Crosse’s misfortune has luckily for me ended in my lap.”

Kevin Ryan’s Glass Slippers took the Group One Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh under Tom Eaves.

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The success completed a big double for Yorkshire runners on Irish Champions Weekend after John Quinn’s Safe Voyage – winner of the City of York Stakes at the Ebor Festival – took the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile at the Irish Champions Weekend, edging out Sinawann in a photo-finish under Colin Keane.

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