Browne McMonagle excited by Irish Leger ride The runaway leader of the apprentice title race with 38 winners on the board this season, Dylan Browne McMonagle is looking forward to riding Baron Samedi in Sunday’s Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh. The Letterkenny native struck up a good partnership with the Harbour Watch gelding last year, winning three times on him, and was also on board when the 5-year-old won the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan first time out this season. Joseph O’Brien’s charge went on to make it six wins in a row under John Velazquez in the Belmont Gold Cup over two miles in June. He was last seen when finishing fifth to Broome in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud the following month. That Vintage Crop success was Browne McMonagle’s first ride in a Group race and he reflected on that landmark win in conversation with journalist Dave Keena. “That was unbelievable. I was claiming 5lb at the time and you’re not thinking about riding Group winners at that stage of your career. “Joseph has so many horses and there are so many riders there, but he gives us all equal chances and usually when we win on a horse he sticks with us. “I won on Baron Samedi a few times last year and I kept the ride on him and he kept progressing. “He’s an improving horse and who knows where he could stop? I’m delighted to be getting the leg up on this kind of horse and massive thanks to Joseph. “The sky’s the limit for him. Every time he’s run he’s only been getting better. “The Leger will be another big step up and it will be a tough race but he’s improving and he’s earned his place.”
