EGAN CELEBRATES 35TH BIRTHDAY IN CLASSIC STYLE

Irish jockey John Egan celebrated his 35th birthday in a ?Classic? sort of way at the Curragh yesterday when he teamed up with British raider Indian Haven to scoop the first domestic Classic of the current campaign, the Entenmann?s Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Supplemented at a cost of €40,000 following his unlucky effort in the Newmarket equivalent earlier this month when he came home fourteenth after suffering interference on more than one occasion, the 8/1 shot seized the initiative at the distance and kept on well in the testing conditions to defeat Aidan O?Brien?s France by a length. Dewhurst winner Tout Seul, winner of the valuable Tattersalls Breeders Stakes as a juvenile here last August filled third spot.

Former rider Paul Darcy, who rode over 200 winners mainly in Britain before setting up a training base at Newmarket with just two horses five years ago, was naturally overjoyed with the victory of his Indian Ridge colt. 'We have 30 horses in training and I hope to have a lot more after today. This was my first runner in Ireland and we bought him for #62,000gns at the Newmarket October Sales,' he said.

Reflecting on the disappointing effort at Newmarket, Darcy explained, 'I?ve no doubt had the starting stalls been positioned in the centre of the track we would have finished in the first four there. That was a bad day but today certainly makes up for that.'

Tomahawk, stable-companion of runner-up France, was all the rage in the ring beforehand tumbling form 9/2 to 100/30 favourite but he could finish only eleventh after coming under pressure approaching the two pole.

Earlier Aidan O?Brien?s Newton earned an quote of 8/1 from Cashmans for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot next month after the Danehill colt prevailed in the Listed Marble Hill Stakes by half-a-length from outsider Moon Unit in the hands of Mick Kinane.

'He was very green the first day when he finished second and also green the second time when he won but he?s improved with every run and looks an Ascot horse,' said the Ballydoyle maestro after the victory. Warm favourite Steel Light, trained by Dermot Weld, failed to quicken when asked by Pat Smullen at the furlong pole and finished back in third just in front of British raider Holborn who set a strong pace until headed close home.

Mick Halford, who has enjoyed a profitable campaign to date under both codes, achieved another career milestone at his local track when he enjoyed his first Group success, compliments of Miss Emma in the Group 3 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.

Supplemented for ?7,500 by his owner Anne Marie Watson, sister of the late John Dukan, the winner quickened up in the style of a good filly at the furlong pole and went steadily clear under Tadhg O? Shea to slam Dandy Nicholls? odds-on shot Captain Rio by an emphatic four lengths.

'I was very worried about Captain Rio but she had improved from her Naas win and I thoughth she might finish third and get the supplementary fee back. Having got the ok from her owner to run we decided to let her take her chance. I don?t have any plan as things stand but she could be an Ascot horse.' said a jubilant winning handler.