Marquand was St Leger's star substitute. Galileo Chrome

Every jockey may recall their very first Classic triumph. More than most, Tom Marquand has a reason.

Marquand was there commemorating a historic occasion even though he had no reason to believe he would be riding Galileo Chrome alongside Joseph O'Brien in the 2020 St. Leger at Doncaster.

As if the face masks worn by those with permission to be present and the empty stands weren't enough to make the afternoon slightly more memorable than it would have been, Marquand was scheduled to see Ed Walker's English King five days before the race.

An entire story in that episode. After riding him to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial, Marquand was jockeyed off for Frankie Dettori in the blue riband. Then, English King could only manage a sixth-place finish at Epsom, while Marquand finished second to Serpentine on 50-1 outsider Khalifa Sat.

It appeared as though Marquand would be watching the St. Leger from the weigh-in room as Dettori had already left for France, but his camp had a last-minute change of heart and sent him to France for the Grand Prix de Paris.

However, let's discuss fate. both negative and positive. Unfortunately for Shane Crosse, O'Brien's juvenile rider, connections moved quickly to secure Marquand after Crosse's test revealed a positive COVID-19 result while traveling to Doncaster.

The narrative is taken up by Marquand: "We had all heard that Shane wouldn't be able to attend, and I remember it quite well. I was heading down to the starting point on Sacred in the Flying Childers when Luke Harvey told me, 'I hear you're riding Galileo Chrome tomorrow,' but that was news to me."

"It was a unique method of learning!

"I had lost my ride on English King for the Derby and the remainder of the season, up until the St Leger, but at the last minute, things changed, and he was going to travel to France instead, where Frankie would be used." That freed me up at the last minute for the Leger.

"After Shane tested positive, Joseph was left without a rider and I was without a ride, so we reunited.

You couldn't make it up if that's how my first Classic winning happened. It was a fairly incredible set of events.

"It wasn't hard to handle, but it was a little awkward because Shane hadn't had a Group One winner at the time, and even though I was happy to have my first Classic winner, I knew that Covid's interference with Shane's ride was ridiculous."

"It was nice that just a few weeks later, though, Shane won the Fillies' Mile on Pretty Gorgeous to get his Group One."

Galileo Chrome wins the 2020 Pertemps St Leger at @DoncasterRaces for @TomMarquand and @JosephOBrien2! pic.twitter.com/m2Gk0akMlF

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 12, 2020

It was a matter of what might have been in Galileo Chrome's instance.

After finishing fifth out of thirteen in his lone race at two, he went on to win his maiden the following June, a conditions race in July, a listed race in August, and finally the Leger. And so it was decided to send him to study.

"It was an excellent horse," Marquand remarked. "He was a wonderful type, and although though he won the Leger over a mile and a half, if given the chance, he very well may have won a mile and a half Group One as well. However, he chose to go for the St Leger, which meant I would win my first Classic!

"It was just awkward circumstances, but I was very lucky to be put aboard that day."

But that's the game we're playing. Not only have other individuals profited from my sorrow, but I'm also fortunate to have produced Group One champions from the misfortune of others. The ups and downs of racing are a necessary aspect of the profession, even though it's not very enjoyable."

 

Although the St. Leger has its detractors over the years, the 2020 revival met all expectations. Hukum, the eventual King George and Coronation Cup winner, Pyledriver, the winner of the same two Group One races, and Subjectivist, the Prix Royal-Oak and Ascot Gold Cup winner, were among the defeated horses.

Marquand stated, "The race itself went as smooth as you would have liked." "He exhibited exquisite relaxation. Up until two out, Berkshire Rocco had the lead, but we challenged along the center of the track. Pyledriver was inside us, but he simply moved slightly to the left.

"To be honest, it was rather simple and he felt like the winner from a considerable distance down.

The Irish Champion Stakes coincides with it, so I'm afraid I won't be there this year. Hopefully, I'll be riding Economics. I seem to recall Ryan Moore (then Moore) riding in both at one point. I'm sorry you can't accomplish it right now.