Hayley Turner moves closer to landmark 1,000th winner

And record-breaking rider has no plans to retire.

Hayley Turner says she has no plans to retire having edged closer to 1,000 career winners aboard Club Manager at Nottingham.

Turner now requires five to reach the landmark number and had a willing partner at Colwick Park in the form of Andrew Balding’s four-year-old, who bettered his second at Bath last month in the testing going.

The former champion apprentice previously hung up her saddle at the end of the 2015 season only to return the following year and the 40-year-old is in no rush to depart the weighing room for a second time.

Club Manager enjoyed the step up to two miles at Nottingham
Club Manager enjoyed the step up to two miles at Nottingham (PA)

“I’m enjoying it so much,” said Turner.

“I realised when I retired before you have to actually work quite hard.

“I’ve got five to go (for 1,000) and I’m getting there slowly.”

Club Manager was sent off the 11-4 favourite for the Follow @worldpool On X Handicap, with the three-year-old thriving in his first try over two miles.

Turner added: “He’s a well-bred horse being a half-brother to Side Glance and he loved the ground and travelled very easy on it.

“Probably getting to the front two out wasn’t ideal as he can be a little bit lazy, but I kept him up to his work and he did it well.”

Tom Ward’s Our Golden One (4-1) put her experience to good use as she prevailed over the John and Thady Gosden-trained debutant Beeley in the opening HKJC Riding High Together EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Probert said: “She was very tough. I just wanted to put her to sleep early on and do it the right way round – she was a bit keen in the early stages at Sandown and looked a touch unlucky when needing room quite late.

Our Golden One opens her account at Colwick Park
Our Golden One opens her account at Colwick Park (PA)

“She ran well in defeat there and the winner has held up her form by running quite well in a Group One.

“I think she will stay further next year and is very versatile in terms of what ground she will go on. She’s moved on that ground today like it was good ground, so she’s a likeable filly and on the improve.”

In-form trainer Ben Brookhouse took the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap with 100-30 favourite Ray Vonn, but was denied a double when the hat-trick seeking I Still Have Faith could only finish second behind an on-song Dubai Souq (5-2) in the concluding worldpool.hkjc.com Handicap.

Saeed bin Suroor’s six-year-old had been without a victory since November 2021, but relished the testing conditions in the hands of Kieran Shoemark to register the second course-and-distance triumph of his career.

“He ran away with me really, I was a bit of a passenger,” said the winning jockey.

“He skipped clear and loves that ground. They told me to kick just before they got to me and I was a bit concerned about doing that as I thought it would be too much too early.

“But he’s a genuine type and just kept galloping. He’s won decisively so you would like to think he’s well handicapped.”

The HKIR In December Handicap went the way of the Kevin Frost-trained Spoof (9-4 favourite), who once again proved there is plenty left in the tank.

It was the eight-year-old’s fourth win since joining the Newark-based handler late last year and Frost could not hide his delight in the stalwart sprinter.

“He’s done us proud and won us plenty of prize-money,” said Frost

“The key to him is getting some soft or heavy ground. He will go on ground others won’t entertain.

“He’s a tough old lad and a typical sprinter. He’s good for me as he keeps me on my toes and you have to think about what you are doing with him every single day. You can’t do the same yesterday as you do today. You have to be mixing it up and keeping his mind right.

“He’s great and been a good old stick for us.”

Tom Marquand enjoyed partnering Rhubarb to victory at Nottingham
Tom Marquand enjoyed partnering Rhubarb to victory at Nottingham (PA)

There was also a fitting success for Tom Marquand on the card as he partnered Richard Price’s 14-1 shot Rhubarb to victory in the World Pool At Newmarket This Saturday Handicap.

“She’s not had much go her way this season and I had a horror story on her at Windsor,” said Marquand.

“She’s had a couple of races like that but it was nice to roll back the years and ride a winner for Richard because, to be fair, when I first started he was one of the trainers I rode the most winners for alongside Tony Carroll and of course Richard Hannon.

“It’s always a pleasure riding him a winner.”

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest