Duc provides 1,000th winner for Geraghty
DUC DE REGNIERE provided Grand National-winning jockey Barry Geraghty with his 1,000th winner in Britain and Ireland at Kempton on Monday, bringing an end to the rider's long wait for the elusive milestone.
Geraghty, who received a 12-day ban for taking the wrong course at Wetherby on Saturday, had had 20 rides since his last winner but rectified that in the Kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase over 2m4½f for trainer Nicky Henderson and owners Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings.
Duc De Regniere had question marks over his jumping ability, but, conversely, benefited from the falls of his main opposition - Pasco and Sir Harry Ormesher - to score from his onlyremaining rival Battlecry.
Geraghty, who won the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kicking King and partnered Moscow Flyer to his Champion Chase successes in 2003 and 2005, said: "It's great to get there. I never set myself goals when I was younger but always said it would be nice to ride 1,000 winners."
As well as victory on Monty's Pass in the 2003 Grand National, Geraghty completed a hat-trick of Grade 1s at this year's Cheltenham Festival in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and JCB Triumph Hurdle, the latter two for Henderson, who was delighted with the jockey's achievement.
Of Duc De Regniere, Henderson added: "That was great - just what he needed. In his novice [chase] season he was making a pig's ear of it and that's why we went back over hurdles.
"The problem now is there is an upside down mess of where to go."
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