Emotional win for Camilla and the Elliott team at Navan
There was an emotional winner for Team Elliott at Navan today when the Camilla Sharples-owned 14-year-old Kruzhlinin won a veterans' handicap chase for trainer Gordon Elliott.
The three-mile event was limited to horses 10 years and older and the winner was the oldest of the 13 starters.
Originally trained in the UK by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Donald McCain and Philip Hobbs, Kruzhlinin was partnered to four wins in the UK by Kilmessan man Jason Maguire in 2013 and 2014.
In more recent years Kruzhlinin has been almost unbeatable on the Irish point-to-point circuit winning 13 out of 17 races, three of those with Lisa O'Neill on board.
Recently-turned-professional Jordan Gainford was on the winner in Navan today as his good run of form continued.
The Wexford man only partnered his first winner in the paid ranks a fortnight ago on the Elliott-trained Fierami in a handicap hurdle, also at Navan.
For Camilla Sharples it was a very special occasion as she explained to irishracing.com
“I looked after him as a five-year-old when I worked for Donald McCain," commented a delighted owner.
"When I left I wrote Paul and Clare Rooney (owners of Kruzhlinin) a letter and said if they ever wanted a home for life for him that I’d take him.
"They were really good and let him run in my colours.
“I just can’t thank Gordon enough training him, he lets me take him to the beach and do cross country - some variety for an older horse.
“We’ve had a really tough week and I’m just delighted for the whole team.
"We’ve all stuck together and it’s days like this that we dream of," she added to irishracing.com.
Camilla Sharples is the travelling head woman in the Gordon Elliott team.
She will surely have a big roll to play over the next six months while her boss serves his suspension and Enfield trainer Denise Foster takes temporary charge at the Longwood base.
The final Elliott runners before the suspension starts on Tuesday will be at Leopardstown tomorrow and Monday.
There were two other Meath-trained winners at Navan today with Stamullen trainer Francis Casey on the mark with recent Dundalk winner Palace Rock and Ratoath trainer Dermot McLoughlin scoring with the Robbie Power-partnered Santa Rossa.