It feels like just yesterday that Billy Egan guided Young Werther to his second career win at Flemington. That victory was 22 months ago, and Egan was with the Danny O’Brien-trained gelding for his next four starts.

Egan will reunite with Young Werther in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), marking their first race together since finishing second in the 2023 Ballarat Cup.

The jockey has had five rides on Young Werther, achieving two wins and two placings, including a third in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m).

Egan explained his choice to ride Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare, also trained by O’Brien, as the reason for not continuing with Young Werther. “I honestly think I got on him at the right time,” Egan said.

Egan rode Vow And Declare to victory over Young Werther in last June’s Group 3 Tatt’s Cup, and hopes to head north with Young Werther this year.

Young Werther has had two runs this campaign, with Egan trialling the stayer ahead of his Australian Cup Prelude run. In his last race, Young Werther finished seventh in the Australian Cup.

Egan is optimistic about the gelding’s chances on Saturday, saying, “He’s drawn one on Saturday… we’ll try and ride him in a replica of when he won at The Valley.”