3 minute read
David Egan’s new partnership with owners AMO Racing kicked off in the perfect style when Mr Professor struck in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.
David Egan became the third retained rider for owners AMO Racing when taking over from Kevin Stott in December. Rossa Ryan was also retained by the AMO Racing team before his contract was not renewed in 2022.
The 24-year-old successfully steered Arizona Blaze to victory for trainer Adrian Murray and owners AMO Racing on the opening day of the Irish Flat turf season earlier in the week and kicked off the British campaign in a similar style courtesy of Mr Professor's big-race triumph.
The valuable mile handicap was not without its dramatic moments as last year's winner, Migration refused to come out of the stalls but there was nothing dramatic about the performance of the winner, who always travelled kindly under Egan before kicking clear at the two-furlong marker.
5/2 favourite Chazzesmee set off in pursuit in his bid to record a famous Lincoln double just five days after landing the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, but his run soon petered out as Mr Professor continued to stride clear for a taking length and a half success.
Lattam ran on well to fill the runner-up spot but in all truth, he never looked like catching the runaway 33/1 winner, who was always doing plenty out in front.
"I had to move over straight away [from stall two]. There were a couple of horses going forward and a couple dropping in, so luckily, I got a nice gap to get in behind. For a horse who stays a mile and a quarter, I couldn't believe how well he took me into the race," said Egan speaking on ITV Racing.
He added: "He's a strong horse and as long as he settled early on, he stays well. I couldn't believe his change of gear. I hate hitting the front early on at Doncaster as you can get easily caught, but I knew when I asked him to quicken, he'd sustain it all the way to the line."
Trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis pointed towards Mr Professor's ability to handle testing conditions as to why he was able to run out such a convincing winner of the valuable Flat turf season curtain raiser.
He said: "A lot of that had to do with the ground, and he travelled beautifully on it. David didn't want to hit the front as soon as he did, but it's very hard to make up distance on that ground.
"We knew he was very fit but weren't confident and less so when we saw the draw. He seems a very happy horse and loves to get his toe in. His form has been very sound, and he's put in a great performance."
