GORDON ELLIOTT could turn his attention to another rare winner on the Flat at York’s Ebor meeting.
The three-time Grand National winner celebrated his 2,000th career victory at Ayr on Tuesday – thanks to a Line of Duty star.
"It's great."@gelliott_racing reflects on his 2000th winner following Ted Hastings' victory at @ayrracecourse who pays tribute to all his team at Cullentra
pic.twitter.com/LADa5ZZoKm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 3, 2022
Ted Hastings scooted up for Elliott, 44, in a Class 4 hurdle contest at 13-8 under Sean Bowen.
The six-year-old gelding, owned by Aidan Ryan, was given the name by former trainer Peter Flood when put up for sale a year ago.
And while he looks to have a career over fences in time, Elliott told Racing TV a couple of his other recent purchases could dominate on the Flat.
Gold Cup-winning trainer Elliott is of course famed for his success with horses over jumps.
But he has tasted success at Royal Ascot with Commissioned winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes in 2016.
Pallasator won the same race two years later despite drifting all over the place in the final furlong under Jamie Spencer.
Elliott couldn’t saddle any runners on the Flat last year due to his dead horse photo ban.
He has enjoyed a solid if unspectacular return to the sport, failing to quite fire on all cylinders at Cheltenham Festival and Aintree.
While stable star Tiger Roll was denied a shot at a third Grand National by owner Michael O’Leary.
But with the jumps pretty much over now until the autumn, Elliott hinted a couple of new buys could be aimed at the top staying Flat races this summer.
One would be the Ebor at York in August – a race Elliott won with Dirar and Spencer again in 2010.
The trainer told Racing TV: “Winning the Ebor in the early stages of my career was very important and two Royal Ascot winners.
“To train a winner for Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing was a special day.
“If we have a horse who’s good enough we’ll train them
“Jumping is where my heart is, there’s no point in telling lies, but I’d love to get a few more Flat staying horses for the likes of the Ebor.
“We’ve bought a couple this year especially for that.
“I tried the two-year-olds a couple years ago and we had a couple winners but it’s very hard to mix them with the National Hunt horses.”
