Ryan Moore reached a landmark at Kempton Park on Wednesday evening with victory aboard Billesdon Brook being his 2,000th on the Flat in Britain.
Sent off the 8/15 favourite, three-times champion jockey Moore was soon to the lead on the Richard Hannon-trained youngster, before having to sit in third, as Last Enchantment and Summer Thunder went on.
Moore bided his time, but switched to the outside and got a smart response when he asked his mount over two furlongs out, soon collaring Last Enchantment and streaking six lengths clear.
And the three-time champion jockey soon doubled up when Roger Varian's Gibbs Hill took the 32Red Handicap.
A beaten favourite at York on his previous start, that form had worked out well and the impressive-looking grey stamped his authority all over this contest, tanking through the first 10 furlongs before striding clear to win by seven lengths.
Moore's first ever winner was as a 16-year-old over jumps on his father Gary's Mersey Beat at Towcester on May 15, 2000, while the journey to 2,000 Flat winners began the following month, when he won on No Extras in an amateur riders' event at Newmarket.
His first major success was in 2002 when winning the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on the Martin Pipe-trained Miss Fara.
Now regarded as arguably the finest rider in the world, Moore's first Classic success came through the Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy in the Oaks at Epsom in 2010, where he added the Derby just 24 hours later when Sir Michael Stoute's Workforce claimed the blue riband.
Ryan Moore: Memorable moments
1. EPSOM, 2010
Moore steered Ed Dunlop's Snow Fairy to victory in the Oaks at a sun-kissed Epsom to record his first Classic success - and whatever he was feeling inside, you could have been forgiven for thinking he was rather underwhelmed by the experience: "I don't worry too much about Classics, but it is nice to get the opportunity to win one. It doesn't feel that different though - it is not the Derby." It was the Derby just 24 hours later, though, as Moore guided the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce to glory.
2. BREEDERS' CUP, 2013
It was a Saturday night to remember for Moore, who was at his brilliant best in landing the Filly & Mare Turf on Dank for Stoute, and bettered even that effort when flying late to snatch the Turf on Aidan O'Brien's aptly-named Magician, denying William Buick and The Fugue. O'Brien's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner still looked to have it all to do approaching the business end, but Moore had timed it to perfection, arriving in the nick of time as the line loomed, getting up to win by half a length.
3. MELBOURNE, 2014
A glorious few weeks in late October/early November saw Moore confirm his position as arguably the best jockey in the world, winning the Cox Plate on Adelaide for O'Brien, before going on to land the Melbourne Cup aboard German raider Protectionist. The 'Cup' saw Moore come with a turbo-charged surge inside the final furlong to deny the remarkable Red Cadeaux, who was finishing second in the Group One handicap for a third time.
4. IRISH CHAMPION STAKES, 2014
It is not by luck that Moore has become the world's most in-demand jockey and he offered the perfect example of his evident superiority as The Grey Gatsby floored dual Derby winner and long odds-on favourite Australia at Leopardstown. Moore was one of those in no hurry during the early stages, and as the field compacted, Joseph O'Brien was forced to go quite wide around the home bend on Australia, while Moore, who had been positioned last, saved ground further inside and used that momentum to propel him on to yet another major success.
5. GOLD CUP, 2013
It is unlikely anyone lucky enough to be at Royal Ascot on June 20 will forget it in a hurry, for rarely has the Queen ever been known to show such spontaneous joy as when watching Estimate win her a first Gold Cup on an afternoon which quite simply delivered everything. It was the first time in the 207-year history of the most prestigious event of the summer meeting that the title has been secured in the colours of a reigning monarch. Her Majesty could be spotted willing on her plucky filly during an enthralling final furlong, before breaking out into a huge smile after Moore forced her a neck ahead of the Irish runner Simenon.
Ryan Moore: The numbers
16 - Age when winning his first ever race, as an amateur over jumps on his father Gary's Mersey Beat at Towcester on May 15, 2000
10 - The age of No Extras, his first winner on the Flat in an amateur riders' event at Newmarket on June 3, 2000
5 - Moore first hit the headlines as a 5lb claimer in 2002 when winning the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on the Martin Pipe-trained Miss Fara
59 - Number of winners he rode when crowned champion apprentice in 2003
48 - Number of winners ridden at Royal Ascot
7 - Number of times crowned champion jockey at Royal Ascot
3 - Number of times crowned champion jockey
9 - Number of British Classic wins
8 - Number of Breeders' Cup wins
2 - Number of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe wins
