Mighty success seals winners’ record for McCoy
McCoy galloped into racing folklore with victory number 1700 on Mighty Montefalco in the Everidge Handicap Hurdle.
And while it took Dunwoody 16 years and over 9300 mounts to amass 1699 winners, McCoy has needed just half that time and about 3000 fewer rides. McCoy did it in style at sunkissed Uttoxeter where a worshipping 7000-plus crowd flocked to hail their hero.
But even in the finest moment of his phenomenal career, McCoy, 28, remained modest. ‘‘It’s a big achievement for me in respect as I know how good Richard Dunwoody was. Seeing as I’ve ridden as many winners as he has. For me he was the perfect jockey, the perfect professional - and I like him as a person,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m very lucky with the people I’ve worked for from Billy Rock, to Jim Bolger to Toby Balding. And I’ve been lucky to ride for Martin Pipe and also for Jonjo O’Neill.
‘‘What you could say is that I’m a very spoilt jockey.
‘‘And also my agent (Dave Roberts) - when I’m not riding for Martin Pipe he gets me on all the good spares. It could not have been done without them.”
McCoy pleased thousands of his followers with his historic success on Mighty Montefalco by a smooth three and a half lengths over long-time leader My Good Son.
Mighty Montefalco, the 8-13 favourite, is trained by Jonjo O’Neill, a former champion jump jockey who once held the record of 149 winners in a season. He said: ‘‘To do it in eight years is unbelievable. It’s just fantastic, he’s a man in a million. We’re so lucky to be able to enjoy him.’’
Balding, who gave McCoy some of his first breaks in the 1994/5 season when he moved to Britain to become champion conditional rider, believes McCoy can go on to set new levels of achievement.
He said: ‘‘I suppose it is the main feat he has achieved and in context it is the most amazing one when you consider how quickly he has done it.
‘‘You’ve also got to consider there’s probably half as much again to come. What can one say really?
‘‘This would have to be the ultimate achievement and really puts his record in context,’’ he added.
Fellow jockey Jim Culloty, who achieved the Tote (Cheltenham) Gold Cup - Martell Grand National double this year, said: ‘‘It’s great and at his age as well it’s an unbelievable achievement. Anybody else would be riding for their whole career. Richard Dunwoody managed to achieve it but McCoy’s so young. That’s the big thing.’’
McCoy had joined Dunwoody with an effortless win in the opening Countryside Alliance Novices’ Hurdle on Dream With Me, the 1-3 shot cruising home by nine lengths.
Trainer Martin Pipe could not make the trip to Uttoxeter following an operation on his right ankle two weeks ago. However, he was quick to shower praise on his stable jockey from his Nicholashayne base.
He said: ‘‘I am thrilled and delighted. It was just a matter of time really.
‘‘It really is a marvellous achievement and it is as good as anything achieved in any sport.
Pipe has been associated with not only McCoy, but Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore, the second and third most successful jump riders, have also been the stable jockey to the master trainer.
Pipe believes it is difficult to compare the three riders saying: ‘‘They are all very good in their own sphere. Scu was a brilliant front runner, Richard Dunwoody was terrifically stylish and McCoy is the ultimate.’’
McCoy’s agent Dave Roberts revealed that he has been just as driven in his ambition as the jockey.
He said: ‘‘I’ve been waiting 15 years for this. When I started as a jump agent that’s what I wanted to get the actual leading jump jockey. That was the aim.
‘‘As a jockey you can’t fault Tony. As I see it he has no weaknesses. I’ve never seen any.
Dunwoody himself was quick to pay tribute to the champion jockey. ‘‘I still don’t think he gets the public recognition he deserves. He has sorted his life out in a way which makes him completely focussed on riding. He limits the mistakes.”
Broke record for most winners in a season by a conditional jockey with 74.
Reached 100 winners on November 21, beating Peter Scudamore’s record by 30 days.
Reached 100 winners on November 5, beating his own record by 16 days.
Reached 150 winners on December 17, beating Peter Scudamore’s record by 51 days.
Reached 200 winners in February 28, beating Peter Scudamore’s record by 58 days.
Reached 250 winners on May 14, the first jump jockey ever to do so.
Rode a total of 253 winners, beating Peter Scudamore’s record by 32.
Equalled record for most winners ridden at a single Cheltenham Festival with five.
Reached 1,000 career winners in Britain in five years and 95 days, beating Peter Scudamore’s record by five years and 72 days.
Reached 200 winners on February 18, beating his own record by 10 days and becoming the first British jump jockey to make it to 200 twice.
Reached 100 winners on September 17, beating his own record by seven weeks.
Reached 150 winners on November 18, beating his own record by 29 days.
Reached 200 winners on January 11, beating his own record by 38 days.
Reached 250 winners on February 25, beating his own record by 78 days.
Beat his own record for most winners in a jumps season by riding his 254th winner on March 2.
Beat Sir Gordon Richards’ record of 269 winners in a season on Valfonic at Warwick on April 2 and he ended the campaign on 289.
Equalled Peter Scudamore’s total of 1,678 on Rakaposhi Lass at Worcester on July 24 2002.
Became second-most winning British jump jockey behind Richard Dunwoody (1,699) when beating Peter Scudamore’s total of 1,678 on Polar Champ at Newton Abbot on July 28.
Became the winning-most British jump jockey when beating Richard Dunwoody’s total of 1,699 on Mighty Montefalco at Uttoxeter, August 27, 2002.
