IT was beginning to feel like an eternity for Rossa Ryan in his quest for a first Group One winner, but the cards finally fell into place in spectacular fashion at Newmarket on Saturday.

The 23-year-old jockey from Ballinderry near Tuam may have been a late call up to partner sprinting sensation Shaquille in the prestigious July Cup, but Ryan proved the ideal partner for his headstrong mount.

Having come from a near-impossible position to land the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot the previous month, Shaquille almost blew the start again at Newmarket.

Last out of the stalls, the hard-pulling three-year-old was testing Ryan’s decision-making in the saddle, but he proved equal to the task by not battling the Julie Camacho trained joint market leader.

Instead, Ryan let his mount loose and the reaction was mind-blowing. Shaquille made rapid headway from the rear of the field before bolting into the lead over three furlongs from home.

It was still a long way to the line and Camacho, along with the horse’s connections, feared Shaquille would burn himself inside the final furlong.

But Ryan had made the right call. Shaquille never looked in serious danger and had one and half lengths to spare over Run To Freedom at the post, with the heavily-backed Aidan O’Brien contender, Big Bad Bear, trailing in last of the eight-runner field.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.