EGAN AND WERTHER GEL

Jockey Billy Egan has managed to find the key to the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther, making it two wins from two rides when he outstayed his rivals to win the Benchmark 100 (2040m) at The Valley.

He could get the opportunity to take their newfound love affair to a Group 1 event in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7.

Young Werther has been placed in the past two Turnbull Stakes, having finished second in 2021 and third last year.

“It’s great for the owners, they were really patient from the maiden victory to the last start win there at Flemington,” O’Brien’s stable foreman Jack Howard said.

“For him to go back-to-back is great for them and for the stable as well. I think Billy (Egan) might be the winning factor, two from two on him, so good luck getting him off,” he said.

Prior to Egan riding Young Werther to wins at Flemington and now at The Valley, the gifted middle-distance galloper had gone 22 starts without a win.

Egan, who has ridden 11 winners in the past 10 days, said Young Werther took advantage of having drawn the inside barrier.

He said from there he replicated his Flemington ride by keeping him in the box seat throughout.

“He has dropped back a fair bit in grade and that’s why he’s carried the big weight, he was going around in Group Ones, now he’s going around in just handicap races so I think a big drop back in grade, credit to the team, good gap between runs, he’s fit and happy,” Egan said.

Story by Michael Manly for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos