Jockey Paddy Brennan said he was "proud" to achieve the landmark of riding 1,500 winners after a double at Catterick on Tuesday.
The Galway-born rider was crowned British champion conditional in 2004/2005 and has enjoyed several notable successes in the saddle, which includes famously steering Imperial Commander to beat Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2010.
It seemed only fitting that Brennan's 1500th career winner would come from a longtime ally Fergal O'Brien, with the formidable pair teaming up the land the Hillcrest Who Cares Wins Juvenile Hurdle courtesy of hurdling debutant Teorie.
Teorie was sent off 4/6 to make a successful hurdling and stable debut following some decent form on the flat for Jim Bolger, who gave Brennan his first job in racing, and the son of Teofilo made no mistake cruising clear for a widening fifteen-length victory.
Brennan said: "It's something I'm really proud of and I do understand the magnitude of it. It's been hard, it's still hard, and every day is hard, but I'm so proud of my family and the people that have supported me along the way. It's been an incredible journey.
"I've no doubt that without Fergal's yard, I would not be here today having ridden 1,500 winners. He extended my career, and we work well together.
"It's not easy, but I'm so driven to get the good days back – Gold Cups, Champion Hurdles, Stayers' Hurdles. I'm running out of time, but that's what gets me up every day – I love good horses.
"You really learn to limit expectation in this game as you know the opposition and know what can come forward. I just think you get up out of bed every day and if your horse is sound, you've got a chance.
"There's been so many good horses. I'm not Ruby Walsh, but I've been very lucky."
O'Brien, who saddled a treble on the card with Blue Bikini landing the opener and Mistral Nell – also ridden by Brennan – landing the Mares' Handicap Hurdle, said of his current stable jockey: "We wouldn't be doing as well as we are without Paddy. He's been huge for my career, and I've probably prolonged his career a little bit as well.
"We've got a great team of jockeys, he's the top of them and he's the bar they have to reach."
