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 Will Hayler |
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| • Irishman's
seven-timer at cumulative odds of 10,168-1 • Feat recalls Frankie Dettori's 'Magnificent Seven' Richard Hughes gained a place in racing history on Monday when he became only the second jockey to ride seven winners at one meeting. In deteriorating conditions at Windsor the Irishman lifted his season's total to 162 winners, well clear of any of his rivals in the jockeys' championship race. The 39-year-old has had to battle problems with his weight and alcoholism to remain at the top of the sport and has also faced his share of brushes with the racing authorities, most notably when he handed in his licence last October in protest against changes to the rules concerning use of the whip. But his partnership with the leading trainer Richard Hannon, whose daughter Lizzie he married in 2002, has produced a stream of top-class winners in recent seasons. Earlier this month, the Hannon-trained Olympic Glory took the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at Longchamp on Arc de Triomphe day, a third top-level victory of the year for the jockey after the wins of Sky Lantern (Moyglare Stud Stakes) and The Fugue (Nassau Stakes). Having ground out six winners from his seven booked rides on Monday, Hughes was expected to be heading home from the track before the final race until Ryan Moore helpfully cried off from his mount aboard the favourite Mama Quilla, allowing Hughes to step in and emulate Frankie Dettori by riding a seventh. "I always thought I might do it one day and especially at Windsor, which has been my lucky track," said Hughes. "I should say, though, that without Richard Hannon I wouldn't be doing any of it. "Every day my kid, Harvey, says, 'How many winners today? Six or seven?' "I tell him I won't ride that many but I have today. It's been one thing after another this year and I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people, especially my agent, Tony Hind. "Ryan was looking a bit pasty but he's one of my greatest friends as well, so that's what a gentleman he is. What a thrill." Dettori's "Magnificent Seven", in which the Italian partnered all seven winners on Queen Elizabeth II Stakes day at Ascot in 1996, cost bookmakers millions of pounds but this time, despite accumulative odds of 10,168-1 for the seven winners, Hughes' damage was limited – not least because any punters who had permed all of his mounts together earlier could not have included the last winner. Kate Miller, who represents William Hill bookmakers, said: "That was probably the cheapest seven-timer ever. The last time a high-profile jockey rode seven winners it cost us £7m, so we're very grateful that Richard timed his for a quiet Monday." |
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