Meath Sports Awards... Magnificent seven up for Gordon Elliott
WATCHING Commander Of Fleet storm to victory at Cheltenham last week brought memories of one of Gordon Elliott's greatest achievements flooding back.
The Cullentra House trainer has had far bigger and more lucrative days in his stellar career than Saturday 18th December at Navan - but on that day he did something no other trainer has managed in Ireland or Britain.
Elliott saddled seven winners on the same card on the same day, landing seven victories in succession at his local track, including Commander Of Fleet who scored at odds of 40/1.
Willie Mullins landed the opening contest courtesy of Whatdeawant (5/4 favourite), but the entire rest of the meeting was bossed by Elliott, culminating in a win for odds-on favourite Itswhatunitesus (10/11) in the concluding Racing Again At Navan On December 18th Flat Race.
Earlier Conflated (9/4 favourite) had struck under Shane Fitzgerald in the Foxrock Handicap Chase, Farouk D'Alene (7/2) won the Navan Beginners Chase for rider Kevin Sexton and there were also victories for Riviere D'Etel (1/4 favourite, Denis O'Regan), Ginto (11/8 favourite, Codd), The Goffer (10/1, Jody McGarvey) and that 40/1 shocker for Commander Of Fleet in the hands of 5lb claimer Fitzgerald in the competitive Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-fold accumulator on all of Elliott's winners would have paid a whopping 37,204/1 to their starting prices.
“It’s been an unbelievable day – to get seven winners at one track and at Navan as well, my local track,” said Elliott.
“I don’t know if it’s been done before in Ireland, but to train seven winners is unbelievable and we’ll never forget it.
“This is special after the year we’ve had, it just shows what it means to the staff and all my owners and friends. You see the likes of Noel Meade clapping you in, they are your proper friends, I can’t believe it.
“We’re back doing what we love doing,” concluded the trainer after a turbulent year.