PAUL HANAGAN notched up his 100th winner of the season yesterday as his ‘dream’ campaign continued.
And the Warrington rider stretched his lead at the top of the jockey’s title race to 15 winners over reigning champion Ryan Moore with a stunning treble at Ayr.
The 29-year-old continues in sensational form and he was delighted to secure his fastest ever century in a season as he secured his 100th winner on Goldenveil in the opener – the EBF Maiden Stakes – for boss Richard Fahey at the Scottish track.
Hanagan was 33-1 and 40-1 to win the jockey’s title at the start of the season, but is now odds-on with several firms to become only the third Northern-based rider to win the championship in more than a century.
Goldenveil justified being sent off the even-money favourite to sweep seven lengths clear of Spring Bouquet.
Hanagan jubilantly punched the air and was is celebratory mood in a season that continues to see him reach new heights.
Hanagan said: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I’d ride 100 winners at this time of the year.
“I don’t really get carried away very often, but I was chuffed and delighted with that. I’m delighted to do it here as Ayr is a place I’ve done well at over the years.
“When you are riding plenty of winners your confidence is high and you get off one winner and on to the next horse still feeling very confident. When things are happening, the gaps seem to come for you at the right time and it just seems to drop right.”
The jockey was thrilled with the performance of the winning filly, adding: “I pulled her out wide as I didn’t want to complicate things. I thought there was a lot of dead wood coming back at me on the rail and I just wanted to keep it simple.
“When she got to the front she’s just ducked to the rail, but I wasn’t that far away from it anyway so I just guided her up there all the way up the straight.
“She did it well and I think the big thing was that she loved the ground.”
Hanagan didn’t wait long for his 101st success, partnering the Jim Goldie-trained Glenluji (4-1) to another wide margin win in the El Toro Grande Dos Handicap. He completed his treble aboard 5-2 favourite Silent Lucidity in the Best Odds Guaranteed At Victor Chandler Handicap.
Reigning champion Moore, himself rode a double at Windsor last night.
But Hanagan, who had a day off today, will return to his title bid tomorrow with five rides in the afternoon at Catterick and three more in the evening at Leicester.
Meanwhile stable-mates Workforce and Harbinger head a possible eight runners for Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Workforce landed the Investec Derby at Epsom in impressive fashion in June and is the odds-on favourite in his bid to become the first three-year-old since Alamshar in 2003 to win Flat racing’s mid-summer highlight.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute – who saddled a 1-2-3 with Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask last year – will run three again with Harbinger looking to build on his win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Confront also entered as a likely pacemaker.
Stable jockey Ryan Moore will partner Workforce with Olivier Peslier on board Harbinger.
Workforce is currently a best-priced 11-10 with sportingbet with Harbinger 5-2 with Stan James, Betfred, Boylesports and Paddy Power.
Aidan O’Brien has won the race three times with Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007) and Duke Of Marmalade (2008) and has Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco – a 7-1 chance with William Hill and Epsom runner-up At First Sight entered.
John Gosden’s three-time Group One winner Dar Re Mi and Youmzain complete the field.
TODAY’S NAP: Chris’s Jem (2.45pm Yarmouth)
