Daryl Douglas brought up his 300th winner in 9 months and 19 days
Champion reinsman Daryl Douglas narrowly missed his own national record for the quickest 300 winners in a season last Friday night at Moonee Valley.
The Bendigo-based driver piloted his 300th Australian winner when successful aboard Miss Laura Jane in the $20,000 PLM Global Management Vicbred Championship Final.
Despite collectively spending four weeks on the sideline through driving indiscretions this season, the nation's most active reinsman reached the 300 mark just two days later than his previous best.
That record was set only 12 months ago, when the 36-year-old went on to amass a record 388 winners for the season, thus eclipsing Kerryn Manning's tally of 371 set in the 2002-03 season.
It's the third consecutive year that Douglas has steered 300 winners with this season's haul made up of 288 Victorian wins and 12 interstate victories.
Not surprisingly, he dominates the race for his fourth straight Australian Drivers Premiership with a lead in excess of 100 wins over Chris Lewis (WA), David Harding (SA), Chris Alford (VIC) and Grant Dixon (QLD).
However, with the 2008-09 season set to end on August 31, it appears unlikely that he'll become the first driver in Australasia to pilot 400 winners in a season.
His national record of 388 may also be unreachable with Douglas yesterday incurring a one week suspension for causing interference at Wagga on a program where he brought up a winner and three seconds.
