Racing: Bay surge takes Egan to dazzling success

John Egan, the sort of jockey for whom the word "journeyman" might have been invented, continued his flirtation with the big time at York when steering the 4-1 favourite Dazzling Bay to an effortless four-length success in the feature, the William Hill trophy. Or rather, almost failing to steer, for the gelding's surge through the final furlong was marked by an alarming, sudden jink to the right, not the most comfortable feeling from the saddle at close on 40 miles an hour towards the end of a six-furlong dash.

Egan had just switched his whip to his left hand, as a precaution against Dazzling Bay veering towards rivals on that side, when the horse took his dive. But both man and beast soon recovered their equilibrium and came home virtually alone along the stands rails; not the way in which a competitive sprint handicap is supposed to be won.

"He just had nothing to race with," Egan said, "which is why he wandered about. You don't normally hear the crowd, but I did today, and that may have upset him too, out there in front."

Last year was one the 35-year-old Irishman might have wanted to forget. He was swept up in a wide-ranging investigation into corruption in Hong Kong but was never found guilty of any offence, and soon after his return to Britain was out of action for nearly two months with a cracked pelvis, sustained when an intended mount kicked him in the parade ring at Newmarket.

But 2003 has marked a sharp turnaround in fortune. Victory in yesterday's £75,000 race set Egan up nicely for his ride in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday on Indian Haven, who gave him his first Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last month.

"After I came back from injury, I kept my head down and kept working at the job all winter," he said. "When a day like today happens I make the most of it, because I know full well that tomorrow may not happen."

Dazzling Bay, who beat Stormont (12-1) and Mr Malarkey (14-1), gave his trainer, Tim Easterby, his second successive win in the centrepiece of Timeform's charity day on the Knavesmire, but one rather more expected than Artie's 25-1 shock 12 months ago. The three-year-old has some rather large shoes to fill, for he was the first winning favourite to score since Sheikh Albadou 12 years ago, and the first to follow up after winning a similar six-furlong race at Newmarket since Cadeaux Genereux in 1988. Both those colts went on to become champion sprinters.

However good he proves, though, Dazzling Bay, a 17,000- guinea yearling who runs for first-time owners Jim Blair and Gordon Walker, will not be following them to stud after the surgical solution to problems of a personal nature.

"We thought he would be a Royal Ascot colt last year," Easterby said, "but then we discovered that when he galloped he was drawing his testicles back into his body, which was causing discomfort. But we sorted it out."

The first two favourites for the Gold Cup, Mamool and Mr Dinos, were both among a field of 13 confirmed at yesterday's penultimate declaration for Thursday's showpiece at Royal Ascot. Their possible rivals include Black Sam Bellamy and veteran Persian Punch, who would be running in the marathon for the seventh time.

At Auteuil yesterday, the five-year-old mare Nobody Told Me gave trainer Willie Mullins an emotional success in the Grand Course des Haies (French Champion Hurdle), 17 years after Dawn Run, trained by his father, Paddy, lost her life in the race. Nobody Told Me, ridden by David Casey, beat the favourite, Karly Flight, two lengths and was the first foreign winner since Dawn Run won two years before her death.