Easterby pays tribute following the death of St Leger winner Bollin Eric

Bollin Eric, the last northern-trained winner of the St Leger, has died at stud in Dorset at the age of 21.

Trained by Tim Easterby to win four of his 18 starts for owner-breeders Sir Neil and Lady Westbrook, Bollin Eric's finest hour was his defeat of Highest and Bandari at Doncaster in 2002, ridden to victory by Kevin Darley.

The son of Shaamit was the model of consistency during a career in which he finished out of the first four only once.

Twice a winner as a juvenile, Bollin Eric was placed three times at Group 2 level prior to his Classic triumph in the Dante, King Edward VII and Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Kept in training the following year, Bollin Eric scored his only win as a four-year-old when landing the Group 3 Lonsdale Cup at York, where he accounted for the high-class Persian Punch.

Bollin Eric died on Saturday, and Easterby said: "It's a sad loss. We had some wonderful days with Bollin Eric and his win in the St Leger was the climax of the racing careers of his owners Sir Neil and Lady Westbrook who sadly died soon afterwards.

"I know he had a great home down in Dorset where they thought the world of him and he had a very good life by all accounts."

He added: "Bollin Eric was Yorkshire-born and bred and he was the last winner of the St Leger to be trained in the north. After he retired from racing and went to stud often we used him and had a few winners by him."

Darley recalled: "Prior to the Leger, Bollin Eric had been ridden for a turn of foot in his races as he travelled so well but usually flattened out a bit.

"At Doncaster, I told Tim I was going to send him on two furlongs out and it came off as he outstayed them. It was a great day and it's sad to hear he's passed away as that was one of the highlights of my career.

"You don't get many northern Classic winners and we got a tremendous reception as I remember."

The former champion jockey added: "Tim Easterby called the Westbrooks 'real people' as I recall and it was great to win a Classic for them."

After his retirement to stud in 2004, Bollin Eric spent one year at the National Stud in Newmarket before going to Wood Farm Stud in Shropshire and then Norton Grove Stud in Yorkshire.

Since 2012, he had stood as a jumps stallion with Brenda Bowditch at Colmer Stud in Dorset and his best progeny was probably the chaser Grandads Horse.

Bollin Eric career details

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