Tom Marquand on the spot again as Galileo Chrome puts O'Brien in record books

Tom Marquand's uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time paid off spectacularly with St Leger success on Galileo Chrome, a horse he was not even riding a day beforehand.

Barely had Marquand passed the post than he was expressing sympathy for Irish jockey Shane Crosse, who was denied the chance to land a first British Classic after testing positive for coronavirus.

Marquand was free as his intended partner English King had earlier been switched to the Grand Prix de Paris – but no-one should be surprised at the latest fortunate turn of his events in a breakthrough season for the 22-year-old.

It began when he found himself in Australia while all racing was shut down in Britain and grabbed the opportunity to make a name for himself, notably riding the first Group 1 winner of his career.

When the action resumed back home, Marquand was jocked off English King, who was then Derby favourite, only to take second at Epsom on stablemate Khalifa Sat instead.

Once again he took full advantage of the chance offered him on Galileo Chrome, an improving colt who had won all three starts in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien in 2020.

Always in touch in a race in which seven of the runners were virtually in line two furlongs out, he sent the 4-1 shot to the front over a furlong from home and drove him out to score by a neck.

Tom Marquand gives St Leger winner Galileo Chrome a patCredit: Edward Whitaker

That made O'Brien, successful as a jockey on Leading Light in 2013, the first man since Harry Wragg to ride and train a Leger winner.

Marquand did not attempt to conceal his excitement afterwards and said: "It's probably the most cliched thing that can come out of my mouth but it really is dreams come true.

"Classics in Britain are some of the hardest races to come across, Group 1s in Britain are equally hard. To have my first winner on UK soil in the St Leger for Joseph O'Brien, who growing up at my time was one of the best jockeys around and is now training and doing a similar job – it's mind-blowing to get an opportunity like this."

But he added: "I can't stress enough how bad I feel for Shane because we've all been in a situation where things haven't gone our way and we're both relatively young so I really can relate.

"He'll be sat at home in pieces no doubt and I guess the one thing in racing is that it always comes back round so no doubt he'll have his day. I look forward to seeing him do it."

Reflecting on his year, Marquand said: "Time and time again it's all fallen my way. It's incredible how racing works everything out. I lost English King in the Derby and gained Khalifa Sat and finished second.

"Then I got English King back for today and he ended up going to France for a more favourable race and I can't go there as I'd have to do the week's quarantine after. And Shane Crosse's misfortune has luckily for me ended up in my lap."

Marquand's partner Hollie Doyle has been grabbing the headlines of late, notably when becoming the first woman to ride a five-timer in Britain last month.

"We're both really fortunate to be in the position we're in," he said. "To have the run we've had over the last couple of years and we're both extremely proud of each other's achievements. Long may the household continue on this path!"

Berkshire Rocco gave Andrew Balding plenty to shout about as he led over two furlongs and battled with the winner all the way to the line.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve, he kept digging in but it wasn't quite enough," the trainer said. "He gave us all a big thrill. I must say I don't shout very often but I had a good shout today! It's really exciting because it's a race we all want to win."

Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Pyledriver finished third on this step up in trip and jockey Martin Dwyer said: "He ran a great race but he didn't stay, it was too far.

"After York I said he could come back to a mile and a quarter. I thought I'd win turning in but he was tired in the last furlong, it was just out of his comfort zone."

The drying ground was reckoned to be against Irish Derby winner, whose jockey Frankie Dettori said: "Santiago probably wants a bit of cut in the ground. He came there to win but he wasn't levelling off like I thought he would."

Owen Burrows also pointed to lack of stamina after Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner Hukum finished fifth under Jim Crowley.

"He probably didn't quite get home," the trainer said. "Jim was happy but in the last furlong and a half he was out on his head a bit. He stayed at Newbury but in lesser company – in this class it was a bit too far for him."

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