Turner gets the ton up

Hayley Turner has become the first woman to ride 100 winners in a year after piloting Mullitover to victory at Wolverhampton.

In the Bet At ladbrokes.com Claiming Stakes, Turner secured her place in British racing history as the 7-1 chance hung on for victory in the extended mile event.

She said: "It's brilliant. I'm really pleased and glad to have done it tonight so I don't have to worry about doing it tomorrow!

"My agent Guy Jewell has done a fantastic job and he was insistent I was going to do it, so I owe it to him over the last few weeks.

"He's done a fantastic job and I'm lucky to have him."

Turner always had Mullitovermaurice in the front rank and although Turner's mount drifted across the track in the straight, the James Given-trained runner just held the late thrust of Betws Y Coed by a neck with True Britannia a further head back in third.

The stewards handed Turner a two-day ban (January 13 and 14) for careless riding but the suspension could not dampen Turner's enthusiasm.

"When I started as an apprentice at Michael Bell's it was difficult for him to get me on some of his horses but I'm very grateful to him and everyone else who has helped me along the way," she told At The Races.

"Gerard (Butler) has been very good to me as well and has not been frightened of putting me up on his better horses and I've tried to grab the opportunities when I can.

"It would be nice (to be offered a job as a stable jockey) but everything has happened gradually for me and hopefully it will snowball next year.

"My aim is to ride better quality horses in bigger races and see where it goes from there."