WHEN it rains it pours for former Mansfield apprentice Billy Egan.
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Two days after scoring a treble at Morphettville, Egan, based with Flemington trainer Mark Kavanagh, claimed a winning double in the first two races at Wangaratta yesterday.
Before last weekend, Egan last tasted success when he notched up another double at Caulfield three weeks ago.
Egan, 20, said winning in the North East was as enjoyable as anywhere.
“I always really like to get back to places like Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga,” Egan said.
“It’s where I learnt to ride and I get paid the same as anywhere else.”
Yesterday’s first win came aboard Jodee Bird-trained mare Prussian Dancer while Ray Bodsworth mare Ahlahcartis was an impressive 2?-length winner in the $7000 Rating 58 Hcp (1300m).
Egan said he was relishing his time under Kavanagh since joining the stable on a permanent basis earlier this year.
But the nephew of Mansfield trainer Gerald Egan can’t say the same about his new home town.
“I don’t like Melbourne at all — moving there has been the toughest thing to deal with because I’m a country boy,” Egan said.
“Everything’s a hassle; it takes half an hour to get the newspaper in the morning.
“Mark’s really good to work for, though — he makes it bearable because he’s almost like a mate.”
- Albury Gold Cup winner Growl has been forced off the track for around six months after breaking down in training for last week’s Sydney Cup.
The David Hayes-trained stayer was solid in betting for the cup after backing up his Gold Cup win with a strong run in the $2.25 million BMW, finishing less than three lengths behind winner Littorio.
The Hayes stable is hopeful Growl can return from his leg injury in time for some off this year’s spring carnival.
Meanwhile, another Albury Gold Cup placegetter, the Brian Cox-trained He’s An Angel, made something of a return to form at Bendigo yesterday.
Two weeks after a disappointing ninth in the Wangaratta Cup, the four-year-old ran an encouraging fifth in yesterday’s $100,000 Blue Ribbon Foundation CRV Championship (1500m) at Bendigo.
Another Cox runner, Duplify, ran third in the $15,000 Rating 62 Hcp (1000m).
