 McCoy was typically assured as he rode Restless D'Artaix to victory |
Tony McCoy stormed to the 3,000th jumps win of his career aboard Restless D'Artaix in the 1620 GMT to round off a dramatic day's racing at Plumpton. The 13-time champion jockey started the day on the 2,998 mark and without a win in 11 days, but led throughout in the 1510 to win on Hello Moscow. He looked odds-on to claim his 3,000th win aboard Miss Sarenne in the 1545, only to fall at the last while leading. But he did not waste time and claimed his historic win on Restless D'Artaix. "It's great, a relief I guess," said the Northern Irishman after the victory, secured amid awful conditions at a cold and wet Plumpton. "It's not something I'm going to play down - I am ecstatic. All 3,000 winners have taken a lot of hard work. "It's very easy to be driven when you are lucky enough to do a job you love. I am lucky to have been supported by a number of great people over the years."  | What sets him apart from the rest is advertised today. He's quite extraordinary and that's why he gets to those quite incredible numbers. You'll never see numbers like this again |
The sensational achievement sparked joyous scenes amongst McCoy, his team and supporters in the paddock as Nicky Henderson's 13-8 favourite made her way back from the line after seeing off a gritty run from The Package, ridden by Timmy Murphy. "He starved himself to ride the filly that fell (Miss Sarenne) and he was genuinely gutted about that," said Henderson. "He's ridden two finishes and I think he was the only person that would have won on either of them. "The one that looked an easy winner goes and tips up. After that it was fair justice that we got it over with today. "What sets him apart from the rest is advertised today. "It couldn't be wetter, it couldn't be colder, he's starving to bits, but he can go and ride finishes like that. I can't believe the attention - McCoy "He's quite extraordinary and that's why he gets to those quite incredible numbers. You'll never see numbers like this again." It was a fitting end to a topsy-turvy day for McCoy, which began with a desperately disappointing run in the 1310 aboard Excape. Despite being heavily backed last week for the Triumph Hurdle, McCoy's mount struggled to keep pace as the 33-1 outsider Ray Diamond, under Marc Goldstein, led from start to finish to hold off the 2-1 favourite First Avenue by half a length. But it was a different story in the 1510, with McCoy leading throughout before holding off late surges from Maraafeq and Spider Boy to end a frustrating few days, during which weather and form had prevented him from adding to the 2,998th victory of his career, secured on Stradbrook at Wincanton on 29 January. That left him with two runs to bring up the landmark - but it looked like he would need only one as he led by five lengths with one fence remaining in the 1545. However, Miss Sarenne dramatically suffered a heavy fall at the last, allowing 5-1 shot Quaspia to storm to the line. McCoy refused to be deterred, though, and produced a typically assured ride in leading Restless D'Artaix to victory at the East Sussex venue to end his wait for a 3,000th win. The 34-year-old became the all-time most successful jumps jockey in Britain on 27 August 2002, beating Richard Dunwoody's record of 1,699 when scoring on Mighty Montefalco at Uttoxeter. He also eclipsed Sir Gordon Richards' record total of 269 winners in a season on Valfonic at Warwick on April 2, 2002. Born in County Antrim in 1974, McCoy began his career on the Flat and bagged his first winner, Legal Steps, at Thurles in March 1992.
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