The countdown has begun for champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan to post his 2000th winner in New Zealand, but he is no hurry to reach the mark before the season ends.
O'Sullivan had one win at Wednesday's Counties Racing Club's meeting to take his career total in New Zealand to 1993.
Despite the milestone being within arm's length, O'Sullivan has decided not to ride tomorrow.
He said it was an opportunity to spend a rare Saturday with his young family while it was the school holidays.
He said he would return to riding at next Wednesday's Matamata meeting. That will be first of six upper North Island meetings at which he could notch the required seven wins before the season ends on July 31.
O'Sullivan said he would not be concerned if he did not reach the mark before the season's end.
"I'm not even riding much. I'm just sort of riding once a week to keep fit."
Only two other riders have managed 2000 winners in New Zealand. The long retired Bill Skelton holds the record for most wins with a total of 2156, while David Peake has 2087. Peake is still riding but does not gain many rides and has just eight winners this season.
O'Sullivan was reluctant to say it was just a matter of time before he reached the mark.
"Every record gets broken but I've got to stay in the saddle - stay in one piece. I'm not saying it's inevitable."
O'Sullivan suffered serious leg injuries when his mount crashed through the running rail at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Cox Plate day in 1997.
He spent 18 months on the sidelines and when he did return to riding was troubled with the leg for some time.
O'Sullivan recently stood down from riding at a meeting when troubled by leg cramp but said it was not related to the injured leg.
"I had trouble with my good one. I was just getting cramp. I hadn't ridden for a while because I had been on holiday in Fiji."
O'Sullivan, who began his riding career 21 years ago, has already ridden more than 2000 winners worldwide. He achieved that mark in January of this year.
O'Sullivan's 2000 career wins have been recorded in seven countries namely New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau and Turkey.
The son of retired top trainer Dave and younger brother of transtasman trainer Paul, turns 38 next month.
He said he would probably seriously consider retirement if he beats Skelton's mark of 2156, which he could do in a little over a year.
O'Sullivan, who has won the New Zealand jockeys' premiership 10 times, has so far ridden 133 winners this season and has no problem talking about retirement.
"I'm only riding for as long as I am enjoying it. If I stop enjoying in two weeks' time, I'll stop. Things are going okay at the moment but if I went out there and thought 'I don't like being here much' I'll stop."
He said retirement had been on his mind for a while.
"I haven't settled on anything but I've got a few ideas. But I'm not going to be a trainer."
- NZPA
Racing: O'Sullivan nearing 2000 mark
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