Moore sets modern-day record at Royal Ascot

Ryan Moore wrote his name in the history books with his ninth winner of the 2015 Royal Ascot meet (Photo courtesy of Ascot Racecourse via Twitter) Ryan Moore entered the Queen’s Vase S., the final race on Royal Ascot’s Friday program, 0-for-4 on the day with a tough neck second in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1) thrown in. The rider needed just one more win to set a new post-war jockey record for a single Royal Ascot meeting and, in front of a crowd of 68,471, wrote his name in the history books when piloting Aloft (Galileo) to a half-length triumph in the Queen’s Vase for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Moore rode his eighth winner of the week on War Envoy (War Front) in the Britannia S. on Thursday, matching the totals of Lester Piggott (1965 and 1975) and Pat Eddery (1989). Both men’s achievements came before the fixture expanded from four-to-five days in 2002. The best score by a jockey at Royal Ascot is 12, set by Fred Archer in 1878. Another 19th century celebrity, Nat Flatman, rode 11 winners at the meeting in 1847 But Moore now holds the modern-day Royal Ascot record of nine winners.

“Ryan Moore is a brilliant jockey, anyone can see that,”
Piggott praised. “To win nine races during any week is a fantastic achievement, but
to do it at Royal Ascot where the competition is so tough is extremely
impressive. I’m sure Ryan will go on to break many more records during his
career.”

A. P. McCoy, the record-breaking 20-time champion jump jockey
who took part in Friday’s Royal Procession and is now retired, also commended
Moore.

“I did think
this morning that Lester Piggott’s nine Derby winners and 116 Royal Ascot
winners takes some doing. But at his age, Ryan Moore is the best jockey in the
world,” McCoy said.

“That is not me saying that, statistics will tell you that Ryan Moore is
the best jockey in the world and he is getting better. He makes very few
mistakes and I am very jealous of him.”

Despite the accomplishment, Moore didn’t have much time to reflect on the
record. Instead, he was in haste to leave for rides at Newmarket’s evening meeting.

“Nine
winners is not something you think about,” he said. “I’ve a few rides tomorrow
and I’ll think about it then.”

Moore has been O’Brien’s first-choice rider this season and
the trainer has supplied five of the jockey’s victories this week.

“I’m
delighted for him,” O’Brien stated. “He’s a great rider and a great fella and it’s
great to have him on board.”

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