David Egan (jockey)

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David Egan
David egan.png
David Egan in 2020
Occupation Jockey
Born (1999-06-19) 19 June 1999 (age 26)
Kildare, Leinster, Ireland
Major racing wins
Irish St. Leger (2023)
St Leger Stakes (2022)
International Stakes (2021)
Dubai Sheema Classic (2021)
Saudi Cup (2021)
Significant horses
Mishriff, Eldar Eldarov, Power Blue

David Egan (born 19 June 1999) is an Irish jockey who is based in Britain and competes in flat racing. He was British champion apprentice in 2017. From 2019 to 2022 he was retained by owner Prince Faisal, for whom he won the 2021 Saudi Cup on Mishriff. Since July 2022 he has ridden freelance, and achieved two Classic victories on the Roger Varian trained Eldar Eldarov.

Contents

Background

Egan was born in Kildare, Ireland. [1] He comes from a racing background. His father John is a jockey, his mother Sandra Hughes trained the 2015 Irish Grand National winner Thunder And Roses, his grandfather is Irish trainer Dessie Hughes and his uncle is British champion jockey, Richard Hughes. [2] His sister Alexandra Egan also became a jockey, having her first ride as an apprentice in July 2024. [3] Egan rode out for his grandfather from the age of 13 and took part in pony racing. He also rode out for flat trainer Willie McCreery. [2]

Career

Having lived with his mother on The Curragh, Egan moved to Newmarket to join his father in 2015. He completed a four-week course at the British Racing School and was then apprenticed to trainer Roger Varian. In 2017, his second year as an apprentice jockey, he was champion apprentice jockey. [4] [5] Egan secured his first victory in a Group race on 2 August 2018, the day after he turned professional, when the Varian-trained Pilaster won the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. [5] His first race in a Classic came in May 2019 when he rode favourite Qabala into third place in the 1000 Guineas Stakes. Egan's father rode outsider Garrel Glen into twelfth place in the same race. [6] In June 2019 he had his first victory at Royal Ascot, when the Varian-trained Daahyeh won the Albany Stakes. [7]

Having signed a retainer with owner Prince Faisal, Egan rode the John Gosden-trained Mishriff to his maiden victory at Nottingham in November 2019. [2] In February 2021 the pair won the Saudi Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before going on to win the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, in March 2021. [1] After coming third in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the partnership secured their first British Group 1 victory in the International Stakes at York on 18 August 2021. [8] On 2 July 2022 Mishriff was narrowly beaten into second place by Vadeni in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. It was to be Egan's last ride on Mishriff, as later that month his association with Prince Faisal came to an end. [9]

Egan had his second Royal Ascot winner in 2022, when the Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov won the Queen's Vase. Eldar Eldarov then provided Egan with his first British classic success, winning the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster on 11 September 2022. [10] In September 2023 Egan rode his first winner in Ireland when Eldar Eldarov beat favourite Kyprios to win the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh. [11] [4] In December 2023 he signed a two-contract to ride as first jockey for Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing. [12] The partnership made a successful start to the turf season when Egan won the Lincoln Handicap on 33/1 outsider Mr Professor on 23 March 2024. [13]

During the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Egan won three Group races on Arizona Blaze, owned by Amo and trained by Adrian Murray. In May 2024, they took the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes for two-year-olds at the Curragh. The following season, they won the Group 3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly before being narrowly beaten into second place in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. In July 2025, they won the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh. [8] [14]

Major wins

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References

  1. 1 2 "'I can't believe it' - Kildare jockey David Egan wins world's richest race". Irish Examiner . 20 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "The big interview: David Egan". The Irish Field. 20 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Empire provides Alexandra Egan with first career success". Irish Racing. 19 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Curragh boy Egan returns for special win". Irish Farmers Journal. 13 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 "David Egan loving life under Kia Joorabchian - but there'll only ever be one 'guv'nor'". Racing Post. 13 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "1,000 Guineas: Trainer Aidan O'Brien seals Classic double with Hermosa". BBC Sport . 5 May 2019.
  7. ↑ "Daahyeh gives David Egan a first Royal Ascot success in the Albany". Racing Post . 21 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 "David Egan". Racing Post.
  9. ↑ "Mishriff ride up for grabs after David Egan and Prince Faisal part company". Racing Post. 14 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "'That was for Jack' - emotional David Egan lands St Leger on Eldar Eldarov". Racing Post. 11 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Irish St Leger: Eldar Eldarov beats Kyprios to secure Curragh victory". BBC Sport. 10 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Kia Joorabchian aiming for 'long-term stability' after appointing David Egan as new first-choice rider". Racing Post. 15 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "David Egan and Amo kick off turf season in spectacular style as 33-1 shot Mr Professor storms home in Lincoln". Racing Post. 23 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Joy for Joorabchian as Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes". Racing TV. 19 July 2025.
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