3 minute read
David Egan, the newly retained jockey for owners AMO Racing, got off to the perfect possible start to the Irish flat season when partnering Arizona Blaze to success.
Egan, who was successfully in action for his new boss in America last night, made the journey back across the pond a fruitful one by steering Arizona Blaze to victory in the opening five-furlong Castle Star And Alkumait At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
Connections landed the opening two-year-old maiden of the Irish flat season with subsequent Group 1 scorer Bucanero Fuerte last season. The Adrian Murray-trained Arizona Blaze travelled strongly throughout before knuckling down well to get the better of Rowdy Yeats by a length and a quarter.
"He jumped and travelled and was the ultimate professional today," said the Irish St Leger-winning rider on Racing TV.
"Initially on the ground, he took a while to find his footing, but the last 100 yards were his best and I loved his tenacity to outbattle the other horse. He really galloped out well through the line. It was a good performance."
Egan, 24, became the third rider to be named AMO Racing's number one jockey after it was announced that Kevin Stott would part ways with them last September.
"It's going to be amazing. They're a tremendous team and have a great bunch of horses," said Egan.
"I'm very lucky to be in the position I'm in and I'm really excited."
Victory for Arizona Blaze also saw first-season sire Sergei Prokofiev get off the mark with his first runner.