Richards (50) ended a celebrated riding career with more than 1000 winners and a clever ride from his apprentice, Sigourney Kelly, ensured he would leave Oamaru with another milestone to remember.
Kelly opted to stick to the rail on the heavy track, and her gut instinct paid off as Tudor Lily strolled home by two lengths.
Master Richards gave apprentice Kelly top marks for the ride, and was pleased to have his milestone come in the hands of one of his apprentices.
His other apprentice, Doni Prastiyou, flew home to Malaysia yesterday for three weeks' holiday.
''She'll go a long way, that girl,'' Richards said.
''She's only learning - she'll get better as she goes along.
''She got back a bit but she cut the corner and took the short way home.''
Richards has experienced both ends of the racing spectrum, from a lowly mid-week maiden to lining Natuzzi up in group 1 races on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
He found it hard to pinpoint one particular win over the 100 victories.
''Your best win is always the next one, isn't it,'' Richards chuckled.''
Obviously Natuzzi has helped put me on the map a bit, but they're all good.''
''You win a maiden with a horse of limited ability and it might be the only race it ever wins but you get it in the right form on the right day and you get a bit of satisfaction out of that, as you do winning a $50,000 race with Natuzzi or something.''
Richards was also pleased to finally notch up a win for Tudor Lily's owner-breeder, Catherine Pullar, of Pukerau.
''She has had three or four with me.
''I've had one that was all right and ran second on debut then broke down - and I've had another one or two that are too slow. This is the last one she's bred.''
