Richard Hughes has admitted he is still targeting winning the Epsom Derby despite retaining his champion jockey crown.
On the final day of the flat racing season on Saturday, the 40-year-old was presented with the trophy in Doncaster before admitting that Epsom success remains his primary goal.
He said: “My ambition from day one has been to win a Derby. I’ve haven’t had enough rides in it to win it yet.”
In 2013 Hughes became the first rider since Kieren Fallon ten years ago to rack up 200 winners in a season, many of them having been provided by Richard Hannon.
Hughes admitted he would not have had as many winners had it not been for Hannon and his team.
He continued: “I went hard early in the year and got my quickest 50 and 100. I thought if I could ride 200 winners, that would nearly clinch it and I did.
“I’ve been on some wonderful horses and I’m under no illusions I wouldn’t be champion jockey without the Richard Hannon stable behind me.”
It has been a vintage year for the jockey, tasting success in his first British Classic with Sky Lantern at Newmarket followed by his second on Talent in the Epsom Oaks.
In July, he guided Toronado to victory in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood while this month he won for the first time at the Breeders’ Cup meeting on Chriselliam in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
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