The thrill of racing a pony around Cheltenham could not change the course of Taylor Fisher's career aspirations.
At the age of 15, the young jockey had his heart set on heading in the opposite direction, after his 2019 fourth-placed finish.
"To win the Derby maybe," he said, when asked what he dreamed of achieving. "Become champion jockey on the Flat."
Three years have passed and the 18-year-old is on track to try and hit the target in the apprentice ranks. Blocking the route, in a friendlier traffic jam than is often the case, is his friend Billy Loughnane.
Two years his junior, the teenager learned his craft on the same bold little pony as Taylor did, Annie R U OK.
"We've always been mates and competitive at the same time," said Taylor, a former champion on the circuit who grew up in Devon. "Billy is flying, he has had loads of winners on the all-weather. If he goes to America to protect his claim, I'll try and make the most of that.
"I want to give the title a good go."
Although his weighing room pal is on a roll, Taylor's camp have the form in the book to throw down a strong challenge. His agent Paul Clarke was behind Benoit de la Sayette's scoop of the 2022 apprentice title.
Taylor had 34 rides under Rules before he found the winning habit on Gliding Bay last July. Just a month later, he thwarted a strong field of professional jockeys on the prolific Gay Kelleway-trained stayer Mukha Magic.
William Buick and Ryan Moore were in arrears, a Chelmsford riding performance which attracted the attention of former Channel 4 Racing pundit Derek 'Tommo' Thompson.
"I was proud of winning that race," said Taylor. "Everyone wants to say they have beaten the best jockeys. I can look back at that moment in the future.
"The owners of the horse and Miss Kelleway have supported me a lot."
Starting out with one of the Queen's former trainers, Andrew Balding, Taylor then made a move to Richard Hannon's stable. But his link-up with Archie Watson and relocation to Lambourn have been the catalysts for an upturn in fortunes.
On the gallops, he is eager to learn from one of the best in the business, record-setter Hollie Doyle.
"Hollie is a racing icon," Taylor says. "She rides out at Archie's twice a week and I can talk to her about all of the horses.
"She's an out and out grafter and a very loyal person too. The best thing I did was to move to Lambourn. They eat, sleep and breathe racing here."
Riding a winner at the St Leger meeting ranks highly for Taylor, along with a more personal triumph. Mujid's 15-length summer romp at Ffos Las was memorable for racegoers and the young man in the saddle.
The stayer is trained by his stepdad Joe Tickle, who took out a licence under Rules to help his son get a foot on the ladder.
"I had my first ride for him," Taylor added. "When I was 14 I'd help school the National Hunt horses at home. I was tiny so it made sense to ride on the Flat.
"I love the speed of the races and riding a winner from the front, timing it well and knowing you've pulled it off. The days are long as a jockey and it can be a hard life – but the winners make it worthwhile."
