The latest exercise book all Robert Thompson's winners are recorded in has its most recent entry tagged over 4100.
At least, that is how he remembers it en route to feeding the cattle one autumn afternoon at home this week.
Not many inscriptions are made in the book these days outside of the provincial and country areas, but there is one horse that keeps tugging on the heart strings of Australian racing's most prolific jockey.
Big Money will be Thompson's only ride on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival at Randwick on Saturday.
In fact, it is the only time the hoop has ventured to town at all while Australian racing's focus has shone on Sydney for the past six weeks.
"The owners are very loyal to me," Thompson said. "They're friends of mine and they stick by me and I stick by them - and [trainer] Rod [Northam] of course."
While Northam will be circling a group 1 win with Odyssey Moon in the Champagne Stakes, perhaps no win will give him more satisfaction than Big Money when he returns against a crack field in the group 3 Hall Mark Stakes.
The flashy chestnut has only finished outside the quinella twice in 15 starts to date, both times during the spring carnival in Melbourne.
"He just ran a bit ordinary on Derby Day [in the Tab.com.au Stakes] in Melbourne, but that was just a one-off thing," Thompson said.
"But he's an honest little fella. We drew the wrong side of the track on a windy day and they're entitled to one bad run.
"He's up against the big boys now so I guess he's got to keep on improving, but he does. All going well after Saturday we could be off to Brisbane with him."
The only horse with a more consistent record than Big Money in the Hall Mark Stakes is favourite Our Boy Malachi, which was a $2.50 favourite with Ladbrokes on Friday evening. The Hawkes Racing star has won 16 from 18 in his career to date.
Big Money was being shopped at $12 in the Hall Mark.
Thompson partnered Big Money to a 12-length barrier trial win in a three-horse field at Muswellbrook last month and pledged to keep following the horse north of the border.
"Rod and I have been together for about 20 or 25 years," he said. "He's stuck by me and I've stuck by him. We're pretty good mates and it's been a good association."
