Eldar Eldarov (Breandán Ó hUallacháin)
By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Eldar Eldarov (16/5) won the Group 1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday for English trainer Roger Varian and Irish jockey David Egan.
Winner of the Cazoo St Leger Stakes at Doncaster, England, last season, the son of Dubawi was a three and a half-length winner over the race favourite Kyprios (4/6 favourite), who was returning to action after an absence of 344 days following an infection on the inside of a joint.
The four-runner field of the Comer Group International Irish St Leger was taken along by Yashin and Shane Foley, with Dawn Rising, Eldar Eldarov and Kyrios behind.
As the runners entering the home stretch in the one mile six furlong contest, the final Irish classic of the season, David Egan made his move on the eventual winner, Eldar Eldarov, and put the remaining runners under pressure.
Ryan Moore was soon asking Kyprios, the European champion stayer of last season who won six races on the bounce including the 2022 Irish St Leger, for his effort. Last season’s Group 1 Prix du Cadran victor was unable to challenge the English-handled four-year-old and was soon struggling.
Egan asked the leader to increase his pace and he soon put daylight between himself and his rivals. Try as he could, Kyprios could not bridge the gap, as Eldar Eldarov completed a comfortable success. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Kyprios was runner-up, with his half-brother Dawn Rising (7/2) (both are by the now deceased Coolmore stallion Galileo) two and three-quarter lengths further back in third.
The race’s front-runner Yashin (20/1), a son of Churchill, and outsider in the betting market, brought up the field, a further five length back.
Speaking to host broadcaster RTÉ Sport, winning trainer Roger Varian said:
“It’s a great thrill to win a big race like the Irish St Leger on Irish Champions Weekend. Delighted to get Eldar Eldarov winning again – he has run some great races in defeat this year, and it’s nice to win two Legers. His run at York was very good and he’s run well at Goodwood last time but he didn’t really stay the extended distance in Ascot in the Ascot Gold Cup.”
For jockey David Egan it was a huge success. The Irish jockey is steeped in racing and grew up near the racecourse. His uncle is former flat jockey and now trainer Richard Hughes, and his grandfather Dessie Hughes trained Hardy Eustace to win the Champion Hurdle twice at Cheltenham.
Varian was high in his praise of the successful jockey, stating:
“David has been with us since he was 15 or 16, and he’s done really well – he’s come through the ranks and he’s taken his opportunities, so I’m delighted for him. He is doing a fine job. He gave him a very straightforward uncomplicated ride today, so I’m delighted for David as a lot of his family is here supporting him today.”
Eldar Eldarov is entered in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at the beginning of October, and is also entered on British Champions Day at Ascot.
“We’ll maybe consider Ascot at two miles,” Roger Varian admitted. “He seems to be better over the mile and six furlongs but there aren’t too many of those races around. He will run one more time this year, most likely as Ascot.”
