Pat Eddery reached a memorable landmark at Royal Ascot this afternoon when he booted Romantic Liason home in the Queen Mary Stakes.
The 11-times champion jockey, 50, thus equalled the amazing career total of 4,493 British winners set by the legendary Lester Piggott.
Only Sir Gordon Richards, on 4,870, now lies ahead of the popular Eddery in the list of all-time winning jockeys in Britain.
Romantic Liason, who had only had one previous start, on the all-weather at Lingfield, scooted home by three and a half lengths at 16-1 from Never A Doubt. Favourite Rag Top was a neck away in third.
Eddery has now ridden 73 winners at the Royal meeting since his first victory on Sky Rocket in the 1969 Wokingham Handicap.
And he has been associated with some of the great names of the turf over the years such as Grundy, Detroit, El Gran Senor, Golden Fleece, Quest For Fame, Sadler's Wells, Dancing Brave, Zafonic and Warning.
PA