Stunning seven-timer
for Hughes at Windsor

RICHARD HUGHES became just the second jockey in the history of British racing to ride seven winners on a card when completing a 10,168-1 seven-timer at Windsor.

Hughes, 39, came within touching distance of winning all eight races on the day but had to settle for third on Ever Fortune.

Frankie Dettori is the only other jockey to ride seven winners on a card in Britain when doing so on Queen Elizabeth II Stakes day at Ascot in 1996.

"I feel over the moon," Hughes said after performing a flying dismount. "I always said I might do it one day at Windsor - my lucky track. Without Richard Hannon I wouldn't be doing any of it."

Speaking later on Sky Sports News radio, Hughes said: "It's a fabulous day - you can only dream of these days. When I won on the Abdullah horse [Embankment] I thought I had a real chance as I didn't think he had much chance. Then I came back and looked at the paper and saw I had some good chances. Then Ryan [Moore] said ‘ride mine in the last' as he'd just flown back from Canada.

"You ride day in, day out to get in the big races on the best days but it's special. I'm sure it will happen again. I said to my valet yesterday, as I didn't have great rides then, that I'd be back tomorrow as I'm the king of Windsor! I knew I had some good rides but I wasn't expecting that."

He added: "I ride Most Improved on Champions Day and he's won at the track but rides are a bit scarce. Maybe someone will give me a spare ride after that!"

Hughes produced a scintillating display of riding to dominate the action, winning the first five races. He opened with a double for his retained trainer Richard Hannon on Pivotal Movement (13-8) and East Texas Red (5-2).

He then partnered Embankment (7-1) to glory in the maiden in the colours of his old retainer Khalid Abdullah and followed up on Magic Secret (4-1) and Links Drive Lady (5-2).

Hughes was given the opportunity to make it eight wins from eight when replacing Ryan Moore aboard Mama Quilla after Moore was stood down from the mount.

However, his chance was gone after losing out on Ever Fortune before he roared back to form with a strong effort on Duke Of Clarence (7-4) in the next securing a treble for Richard Hannon.

But Hughes was not done and given the chance to equal Dettori he galvinised 15-8 favourite Mama Quilla to victory after she had looked briefly in trouble turning into the straight, punching the air as he passed the post.

Bookmakers were left reeling after Dettori's magnificent seven 16 years ago but escaped mostly unharmed from Hughes's efforts.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: "That was probably the cheapest seven-timer ever for the bookies! The last time a high-profile jockey rode a big seven-timer it cost us £7million, so we're very grateful that Richard timed his on a quiet Monday.

"We'll pay out around £100,000 but the figure could easily have been ten times that if he'd chosen this Saturday instead!''

David Williams of Ladbrokes claimed they would have probably "done our brains" while Betfred expect to dish out over £500,000.