Josephine Gordon reaches 100 milestone

Josephine Gordon has become just the second woman to ride 100 winners in Britain in a calendar year, following in the footprints of Hayley Turner.

The 2016 champion apprentice brought up No.100 at Wolverhampton on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT) on the Hugo Palmer-trained Thunderbolt Rocks.

“It’s huge for me,” Gordon said.

“I set myself a few targets at the start of the year and to reach all of them, I’m just pinching myself, really.

“In the first year out of your claim you don’t know how it’s going to go, but all of the trainers have kept on backing me so to reach 100 winners feels incredible.

“In 2008 when Hayley got 100 winners I was sat in school and looking up to Hayley thinking, ‘Wow that’s amazing’.

“I would never have expected for myself to then go on and hit those heights.

“Hayley was my idol when I was a kid so I’m very happy to emulate her and reach these goals that I’ve set myself.”

Gordon has made vast gains during the 2017 Flat season and secured a first Group-race winner when the Palmer-trained Koropick landed the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June.

The 24-year-old also won a second Group Three race in September when Apphia won the Nayef Stakes at Newmarket.