Break open the champagne. Shout from the rafters. It's happened at long last.

After a yawning gap of 25 years, Classic glory has finally returned to Ryedale, courtesy of Bollin Eric, whose rousing victory in the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday was met with universal approval as trainer Tim Easterby and jockey Kevin Darley proved the heroes of the hour in pulling off a magnificant triumph in the North's only Classic.

Sent off at 7-1 in the eight-strong field, Bollin Eric galloped home to a one-and-a-quarter length success over Highest, one of Sir Michael Stoute's three runners in the race, with Bandari, trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston, a further two lengths back in third.

The first prize in the Rothmans Royals-sponsored showpiece was a whopping £240,000, but there was much more to this triumph than money alone. "This feels like history," mused a clearly moved Tim Easterby, after adding his name to the roll of honour in the world's oldest Classic, first run in 1776.

"When I went into his box the day before the race, he had eaten up everything, his legs were ice cold and he looked wonderful," added Easterby. "You couldn't have wished to have a horse in better form for a Classic, but to win like he did was unbelievable. What more can you say?" What more indeed.

Not since Peleid gained a 28-1 success for Norton trainer Bill Elsey in 1973 had the North won the St Leger. And the only other Classic winner to have been trained in the area since then was Mrs McArdy, saddled by Mick Easterby - Tim's uncle - to lift the 1977 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Remarkably, Tim's father and predecessor, the legendary Peter Easterby, never had a single Classic runner, home or abroad, despite becoming the only trainer Britain has ever seen to win more than 1,000 winners under both codes.

"I never had an 'oss good enough to run in a Classic," he recalled last week as Bollin Eric - Tim's second Classic contender - was limbering up for his Doncaster D-day. French Fellow, unplaced in the 2,000 Guineas a couple of years ago, had been Tim's pathfinder.

Easterby snr stayed away from Town Moor on Saturday, watching the thrilling action unfold on television, as Bollin Eric, trained to the minute, did his stuff in unforgettable style, carrying the familiar colours of 85-year-old enthusiast Sir Neil Westbrook.

The former Lord Mayor of Manchester, and his wife, Lady Joan, have been associated with the Easterbys for some 40 years from their Prestbury base in Cheshire on the banks of the River Bollin, where they have a five-mare stud.

Having first had horses with Tim's great-uncle Walter, who trained at Towton, near Tadcaster, they then supported Peter and have continued their loyal patronage since the Habton Grange reins were passed from father to son seven years ago.

"I am absolutely delighted to have trained a Classic winner for such marvellous owners as the Westbrooks, who are such loyal and wonderful people to train for," said Tim, who was instrumental in purchasing Bollin Zola, the mare who produced Bollin Eric, as a yearling.

"I bought her in Ireland with Sir Neil, who was keen to have her as she was from the first crop of Alzao. She won three races before the Westbrooks bred from her and since then, she has produced Bollin Joanne," said Tim, recalling the ace sprinter, who provided him with his first Pattern race success as a trainer when winning the 1998 Duke Of York Stakes on Knavesmire.

That Bollin Eric has proved to be a stayer owes much to the influence of his Derby-winning sire Shaamit, and stay he most certainly did over the demanding Leger distance of an extended one and three-quarter miles.

For Kevin Darley, it was a moment to savour. Having been Bandari's regular jockey until the horse changed ownership before the Derby, the Sheriff Hutton jockey must have taken great pleasure in going past the hot favourite more than a furlong from home as he notched his first Classic win in England to go with his victories in the French and German Derbys.

"It's a fabulous feeling to have won my first Classic in this country. It's been may ambition for a long time," said Darley, who admitted that he regained the mount on Bollin Eric only after doing something that he seldom contemplates.

"I rang up Tim for the ride," said the former champion, who had partnered the three-year-old into second place in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Willie Supple was on board the next time he ran, finishing third at Haydock, and Kieren Fallon was in the driving seat when he was a strong-finishing third behind Bandari and Highest in last month's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Fallon was keener than most on Bollin Eric's St Leger chances, but the likelihood was that he would be required to ride one of Sir Michael Stoute's runners, even before suspension ruled him out of the race altogether.

"Once I realised the mount was available on Bollin Eric, I was on the phone to Tim and he said he'd make my availability known to the Westbrooks, and, thankfully, they let me ride him," added Darley.

Celebrations continued at the Grapes Inn at Great Habton long into the night on Saturday, marking a famous victory which stands alone for a famous yard, which had sent out five Champion Hurdle winners and two Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes, not to mention a whole host of other high-profile scorers under both codes.

Plans for Bollin Eric remain fluid. A Group 2 race at Longchamp in France next month is being considered, but it could well be that we've seen the last of him for this season. The good news, though, is that he will be kept in training next year, and the prediction of Tim Easterby has always been that whatever Bollin Eric achieved at three, he would be an even better four-year-old.

The mind boggles. Roll on 2003.

Tom O'Ryan is a staff writer with the Racing Post.

Updated: 09:50 Wednesday, September 18, 2002