Egan shines on Salamanca in Easter Classic

David Egan got his fractions spot on in front as Salamanca made most of the running to win the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap at Newcastle.

Egan employed similar tactics 12 months ago to win on Elegant Man and this time teamed up with trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam in the colours of Peter Harris.

The four-year-old cost 335,000 guineas but his pedigree backs it up being by Sea The Stars out of Awesometank, a smart filly for William Haggas who finished second in the Beverly D. Stakes.

Lightly raced, the 14-1 chance was having just his sixth start – it would have been one more but he took part in a void race at Chelmsford when the starting stalls failed to be removed from the track.

Penzance, Glen Buck and Charlotte’s Web were all close enough if good enough, but it was the favourite Old Harrovian who threw down the final challenge.

Oisin Murphy looked confident two furlongs from home but still had several lengths to make up.

Andrew Balding’s runner soon changed gear and was catching hand over fist, but the line came too soon and he failed by a neck, with a short head back to Charlotte’s Web.

Chapple-Hyam said: “It was well mapped out to come here for the championship and when you get a wide draw your six months of planning looks like it’s all down the gurgler, as I said to Mr Harris before the race.

“It was an excellent ride, he clocked it properly in his head. We’re thrilled we’ve seen the horse that we believed in and how he’s trained at home. He’s a good horse.”

Of Harris, Chapple-Hyam added: “He never interferes, he’s solid as you like, he’s a great sounding board and I appreciate his support.”

Former trainer Harris said: “I enjoy most being on the gallops, that is the chief joy and this is the icing on the cake.”