Adam Durrant reached his half century when Star Exhibit, courtesy of a magical William Pike ride, took out the last race at Ascot on Saturday.
Durrant leads the trainer’s premiership with 50 metropolitan wins, opening up a sizeable break over his next rival, Grant Williams.
With 50 city wins and 47 at provincial, Durrant has a 20 per cent winning strike rate and is certain to crack the ton in upcoming days.
The Karnup horseman, a five-time trainer’s premiership hero, announced a few weeks ago that he would be taking a break from racing at season’s end.
William Pike is just 14 city wins shy of reaching a century after steering home Star Exhibit from last position at the top of the straight.
The champion hoop has smashed last season’s 81 wins, a tally that was interrupted for several months after he sustained a shoulder injury.
Lucy Warrick maintains her mini lead for second over Pat Carbery after riding Wink And A Nod in the Listed Grandstand Cup and Lunar Eclipse.
Clint Johnston-Porter failed to add to his 27 win tally at Ascot, but he still has a firm grip on the Leading Apprentice title from Jake Casey.
TRAINER
Durrant 50
Williams 41
Simon Miller 33
Parnham 25
Harrison 23
Warwick 23
Morton 19
JOCKEY
Pike 86
Warwick 37
Carbery 30
Johnston-Porter 27
Knuckey 24
Casey 18
Mitchell 18
APPRENTICE
Johnston-Porter 27
Warwick 21
Casey 19
Mitchell 18
Tan 13
RWWA: Julio Santarelli