Laura Mongan says her St Leger success is fantastic for women in racing

Laura Mongan hopes her victory in Saturday's St Leger will act as an inspiration for other women in horse racing.

Epsom-based trainer Mongan made the headlines at Doncaster at the weekend as she became the first woman to train the winner of the final Classic of the season when Harbour Law triumphed at odds of 22/1.

Amy Murphy, who at 24 is the youngest trainer to hold a licence, said the "fantastic result for women in racing" had boosted her confidence as she prepared to saddle her first runner in Pyla at Thirsk on Tuesday.

Mongan has wished Murphy the best of luck in her career and wants her own success to encourage other women in the sport.

"I do think it is fantastic for women in racing, absolutely I do," Mongan told Sky Sports News HQ as she reflected on Harbour Law's win.

"It's a great start [for Amy] and I hope that it will keep the girls' names going all the time and there's no reason why girls can't compete as equals.

"It's been an industry that has always sort of favoured the male side of things, but good luck to her.

Mongan admits there can be barriers for women in racing but is hopeful she has managed to break some of them down thanks to Harbour Law.

"Even the riding side of it, it is very hard for girls to get going," she said. "I'm not sure why because so many girls come into the industry and girls work very hard to get where they are, so it's a shame it is male dominated.

"I think the fact that I'm the first lady trainer to win the St Leger doesn't really ring true in my mind and it's a shame. But hopefully there are more people up and coming and this will always give them a bit of a boost that they can succeed.

"You see plenty of women trainers having winners, it just doesn't get noticed because sometimes it is down the lower end of the game. But sometimes they are the hardest horses to train."

Mongan, 36, says Harbour Law's landmark victory is now starting to sink in and the horse is doing well following his exertions on Town Moor.

"I have to watch the replay every so often just to make sure it was real, but yeah it's sinking in," she added.

"He's come out of it really well actually. He was a little bit on the quiet side on Sunday, which is understandable, but he's absolutely fine."

Harbour Law is set to remain in training as a four-year-old next year with Cup races on his agenda and Mongan, who trains just over 20 horses at her Epsom yard, is keeping her fingers crossed he will remain in her care.

She said: "At the moment I think everyone is just living the moment and the owner wants to enjoy Saturday. We will have to sit down and discuss the options for him next year, but at the moment we are all just enjoying what he has done.

"I see no reason why he's not good enough to run in Cup races next year. We've always said that he would be a better horse next year, so he's probably almost more exciting for what he can do next year.

"It's been good the owner has stuck with him all year. I think they are all for sale to some extent but I'm hopeful that he will stay with us next year, or I'm praying he will anyway."

Mongan also became the first trainer from Epsom to saddle a Classic winner since Right Tack's success in the 1969 2000 Guineas and she is pleased to have put the town's name back on the training map.

"I just think that obviously it will be a memorable result and it hopefully boosts everyone's confidence that it can be done with the right ammunition," she said.

"As well as that, I am hoping that it gives Epsom a bit of a boost because Epsom seems to have gone just so quiet over the last few years and it will be nice for them just to get their name up in the lights a bit, which I think it already has done.

"So whether we will be gaining any more horses from it, I don't know time will tell, but you like to think so."