Ellison pays tribute to family and staff after reaching 1,000 winners

In 1999, ten years into his training career, Brian Ellison had a party to celebrate his first haul of 20 winners in a season. On Friday night and yesterday morning it was business as usual, despite the yard reaching the 1,000-winner milestone.

Such is the progress the stable has made, developing into one of the biggest and most successful dual purpose operators from humble beginnings in 1989, that Ellison yesterday had to organise seven runners at three different tracks.

"It's been a long journey getting here," said the trainer, who reached the landmark with Robero at Newmarket on Friday night. "We were down to just three horses at one time but things have picked up a lot in the last few years. I've got a great team behind me. My daughter Jessica and wife are very supportive and it's great that we've got there.