Dubai George Baker, one of the tallest jockey’s in the world at 6ft, towered above his rivals after winning the English St. Leger (Group 1), the world’s oldest Classic at Doncaster Racecourse, England yesterday.

Riding 22/1 chance Harbour Law, Baker rode an extraordinarly patient race, only making his move inside the final furlong to peg back front-runners Ventura Storm (Silvestre de Sousa) and Housesofparliament (Colm O’Donoghue) in a thrilling three-horse finish to the 2,800-metre contest.

One of three rides making their St. Leger debut’s Baker’s winning ride handed Laura Mongan a record first success in the race.

Mongan, who is assisted by her husband Ian, a former jockey who retired in 2013, was also sending out the first Classic winner trained in Epsom since the Harry Wragg-trained Intermezzo in 1969.

Muntahaa, bidding to give Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, a first St. Leger, led for much of the trip but was caught flat-footed by the front trio in the run to the judge.

An emotional Mongan told Racing UK: ”It’s a bit surreal at the moment but it was absolutely brilliant. We have a great team at home and it proves that we can do it with the right ammunition and it proves that Epsom can do it.

“George knew exactly what to do at the right time and we knew coming into today that we could leave it to George as we had done everything we could at home.”

Baker was struggling to control his emotions and said: “I can’t believe that. I am so happy for Laura and Ian (Mongan - former jockey and Laura’s husband) because they have had so much belief in him.

“They have done everything right - they have given him plenty of time between his races and it has 110 per cent paid dividends for them.

“It’s an amazing feeling. Today is just a sweet, sweet result.”

Ian Mongan, Group 1 winning jockey was full of praise for his wife and said: “Laura’s a fantastic trainer, a fantastic wife and a fantastic mother. We left our seven-year-old daughter Daisy at home today to come here and its her birthday and now we’ve justified it.”

Unmistakable talent

“We’ve had a lot of faith in this horse but did we think he would win the St Leger? Maybe. He has come up against the best of the best. From a little yard in Epsom, we are taking on the mighty power of Coolmore and all the other trainers, he said.

“Henry Cecil sat me down three or four years ago and told me that good horses make good trainers and jockeys and that is exactly what happened today. He is a good horse. We were lucky that he came into our yard and all you have to do is feed them well and train them well and they’ve got engines and take you to special places. This horse has taken us to the St Leger - a Classic race. No woman trainer has ever won this race and Laura has done it today.

In an An eventful race which saw the field of saw the nine runners bunched together for most of the trip, favourite Idaho unseated his rider Seamie Heffernan in the home straight after sppearing to stumble.

Inquiry

The track Stewards held an inquiry into the incident but came to the conclusion that no other horse or jockey was to blame.

Heffernan was able to walk away after being attended to by medics as Idaho galloped past the winning post riderless.