David Elsworth saddled his 1000th career winner when 16-1 shot Trillie came good in the EBF Isle of Wight Novice Stakes at Salisbury this afternoon.
The Neil Pollard-ridden filly seemed beaten over a furlong out but rallied to such effect that she stuck her nose in front virtually on the post for a short-head verdict from Repulse Bay.
An elated Elsworth said: 'My first Flat winner Raffia Set was here in 1982 and now my 1000th winner is at Salisbury as well but I wouldn`t really say it was my lucky track as there have been plenty of shocks here too.
'I couldn`t really believe the filly had actually won there as I was watching the race, saw her drop out, and then watched something come flying back through before realising it was her!'
Elsworth listed multiple winner In The Groove and Indian Ridge - who landed the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old and returned to the course to lift the King`s Stand Stakes the following year - as his finest moments on the Flat.
Of Indian Ridge, Elsworth recalled tongue-in-cheek: 'He would have won the 2000 Guineas as well if they had run it at Whitbury as he was unbeatable on my gallops but just wouldn`t settle on the track.'
However Elsworth`s finest accolade as a trainer arguably came when he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Desert Orchid in 1989 and he revealed that he will train a few jumpers this year despite stating in the past that he would concentrate on the level.
'It`s a fact that I`m going to have a few jumpers again this winter - mainly through pressure from my staff - and I guess I`ll have half a dozen or so but if anybody`s got a good chaser or hurdler out there I`ll train it for them,' he said.
