Billy Egan: Family, footy and Feroce

Billy Egan thought the excitement of winning the Australian Guineas was over once the race was done, but little did he know, his day was about to reach new heights. After weighing in, Egan’s day soared to another level.

A self-confessed one-eyed Collingwood supporter, he was greeted by none other than Magpies coach Craig McRae – who also has a share in Feroce.

After dismounting and weighing in, Egan gravitated toward McRae for a chat and a few photos.

Adding to the occasion was the presence of his father Brendan – also a passionate Collingwood supporter – who had made a rare trip to the races.

Egan said it wasn’t Feroce he spoke to McRae about, but Collingwood and their chances of securing another premiership.

He, his father, and fellow jockey Daniel Stackhouse had been at the MCG to witness Collingwood’s 2023 Grand Final win over Brisbane – a moment he counts among the highlights of his life.

“The buzz from the Grand Final win was great, but the one I got from the Australian Guineas beat that,” Egan said.

It was Egan’s second Group 1 victory, the first being on Dunkel in the 2023 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

He said there was no doubt the Australian Guineas now stood as the highlight of his career.

“It’s a Group 1 and a major race at Flemington. It doesn’t get any bigger,” Egan said.

Early in his career, Egan was identified by astute judges as having above-average riding ability, but success has come slowly.

He describes himself as a slow maturer, and at 35, he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

As a rider in his 20s, he admits he saw racing more as a job that enabled him to enjoy life rather than a full-time commitment.

“It probably just wasn't my first priority like it is now. I wanted to go overseas and travel with friends. I prioritised my life around living, around travelling and having fun. Riding was secondary,” he said.

“I was like many of my mates. They got to their late 20s and started their own businesses or took their careers more seriously, which is what I’ve done.

“We all wanted to travel the world and see a lot of things, and obviously we got to that age where they started taking their jobs and careers seriously. And so did I.”

Egan completed his apprenticeship under his uncle Gerald, who is renowned for mentoring top jockeys including Luke Nolen, Jye McNeil, Nick Hall and Lachie King from his base in Mansfield.

But Billy says it was his father Brendan who instilled in him the fundamental horsemanship skills.

“Dad taught me how to ride and all the other skills needed to be a jockey,” he said.

Brendan works at Lindsay Park in Euroa, where Billy describes him as a “jack of all trades”.

Billy said both his parents, Brendan and Sarah, who live in Mansfield, were rarely seen at the races – but they were there on Australian Guineas Day.

“I was really pleased Mum and Dad were there on course. Dad never comes to the races. The only other time he came was to watch me ride Cherry Tortoni in the same race, and he ran second.”

Egan rides trackwork for two stables: Patrick and Michelle Payne’s, and Dominic Sutton’s.

Those two stables have also provided him with his Group 1 winners: Dunkel for the Paynes, and Feroce for Sutton.

“I go to Dom’s at Flemington and ride trackwork and jump-outs every Friday for him, and then whatever other days I’ve got free, I go to Patrick’s farm.”

He credits Patrick Payne’s riding advice as invaluable to his development as a jockey.

To stay fit and manage his weight, Egan keeps a gym and sauna at home.

“Obviously with experience and getting older, you learn a lot more about your diet, your body and how to lose weight,” he said. “You take things from other people, you try it for a bit and see if it works, and if it does you keep doing it. If it doesn’t, you talk to someone else and try something else.”

Last season, for the first time, Egan rode more than 100 winners and he’s on track to repeat that feat in 2024/25. He’s also nearing the 1000-career-winner milestone.

“I’ve always felt I could ride, it’s just a matter of getting the opportunity. I always thought I could do it with a combination of working hard and then switching on when the rides came.”

Egan celebrated his Australian Guineas triumph with his parents and aunty Kylie on Saturday night. On Sunday, he caught up with fellow jockeys, describing it as “a fair old celebration.”

For a rider who’s taken the long road to the top, it wasn’t just the party that mattered – it was the moment itself: the culmination of patience, persistence, and a belief that his time would come. And at Flemington, on one unforgettable autumn afternoon, it finally did.