Egan teams with Werther in 2025 Mornington Cup bid

Young Werther and Billy Egan will team up again in the Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday, with Egan looking to recapture the form they once shared nearly two years ago at Flemington.

Egan was instrumental in Young Werther’s early wins and remained aboard for several starts, including a notable placing in the Champions Stakes (2000m) and a second in the 2023 Ballarat Cup.

But their partnership paused when Egan began riding another stablemate, Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare, in several shared engagements.

“I honestly think I got on him at the right time,” Egan said.

“They dropped him back in grade and he started winning races and then he started going back up in grade, so I was just lucky at the time.

“He and Vow ended up going to a heap of the same races and I stuck with Vow.”

Now, the experienced hoop is confident the gelding still has plenty to offer, especially after his latest efforts, which include a run in the Australian Cup where he wasn’t disgraced behind Pride Of Jenni.

“I trialled him first-up this prep, and he gave me a good feel,” Egan said.

“He felt like he still has plenty of life about him.

“His run first-up wasn’t too bad, so hopefully with natural improvement, and that run the other day hasn’t bottomed him out too much, that he’s come through it well.”

Drawn ideally in barrier one for Saturday, Young Werther may get a similar run to his dominant Moonee Valley victory—something Egan and assistant trainer Jack Howard are aiming to replicate.

“He’s drawn one on Saturday and I spoke to Jack Howard, and we’ll try and ride him in a replica of when he won at The Valley one day when he drew one and box seated,” Egan said.

“I don’t see Mornington being any dramas for him.

“He’s got a good record at Flemington with the big straight, but I’ve worked him at The Valley, and he flies around there as well.”