William Buick crowned a first championship-winning campaign by reaching the 200-winner mark for the first time on Thursday.
Buick, 34, hit the landmark on the odds-on Zealot who defied a 10lb penalty and a monster weight of 10st 6lb to score at Southwell.
The Class 6 handicap was one of the worst races the jockey would have ridden in this year when he has garnered Group 1 laurels around the world as first jockey to Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.
But after winning the Flat title by a margin of 66 winners, he made it his next mission to aim for 200 winners in the calendar year, eclipsing last year’s best score of 170.
“I said to my agent Tony [Hind] six weeks ago, when we had 31 winners to go, whether we would try. It was within reach but things didn’t quite go to plan early on and here we are today,” Buick told Sky Sports Racing.
“It’s been a great year and I’ve had wonderful support from everybody. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have had an amazing year as well with Charlie and Godolphin champions too.
“I would love to go for it again next year. Beyond that you never know.”
