O'Connor reaches landmark success in point-to-points
Sunday 15 February 2015 15:11, UK
Ireland's champion amateur rider Derek O'Connor recorded 1,000 wins in point-to-points when successful on Death Duty at Cragmore in County Limerick.
O'Connor achieved the landmark with a 15-length victory in the Brightwells Bloodstock 4YO Geldings Maiden on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Death Duty for one of his principal supporters, Pat Doyle.
The County Galway rider had taken his tally to 999 on Muirhead at Kirkistown in Northern Ireland on Saturday.
O'Connor was presented with a bottle of champagne by land owner and long-term ally John Costello.
Gigginstown's racing manager Eddie O'Leary said: "Derek is a legend in his own game, and I'm thrilled we were able to give him his 1,000th winner. He's a nice horse.
"Derek's only 3,300 odd more to go to catch Tony McCoy!"
O'Connor enjoyed two victories at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2011, on Chicago Grey in the National Hunt Chase and Zemsky in the Foxhunter Chase.
