Ellison eyeing big-race double with Onesmoothoperator

Onesmoothoperator is likely to head straight for the Sky Bet Ebor after fulfilling a lifelong ambition for trainer Brian Ellison by landing Saturday’s Northumberland Plate.

Born in Newcastle on Plate day in 1952, proud Geordie Ellison – who celebrated his 72nd birthday on Friday – has never hidden his burning desire to land a race known to the locals as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’.

Having come close with runner-up Seamour eight years ago, the Norton-based trainer finally struck gold in the Gosforth Park feature last weekend as Onesmoothoperator cruised to an emphatic victory and sparked emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure.

“It was a great day, wasn’t it? The owner lives five minutes from the course, so we went there and had a barbeque and had a good night,” said Ellison.

“On the day it didn’t really sink in, you always think it’s not going to happen, don’t you? But he was very impressive.”

As a North Yorkshire trainer, the Ebor is also high up on Ellison’s list of priorities.

“We’ll look at the Ebor and I think that will probably be his next run,” Ellison added.

“It would be nice to win it again and it’s obviously a good money race now (worth £500,000).

“We’ve found out he wants a bit more time between races, so we probably won’t run again before York.”

Ellison also ran the high-class Tashkhan in the Northumberland Plate, with the six-year-old weakening out of contention after forcing the early gallop.

However, given he had been off the track since finishing third in the Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp in October, the trainer is not giving up on his high-class stayer just yet.

He said: “Tashkhan has come out of it well, he’ll be in the Ebor and maybe the Lonsdale Cup as well.

“I looked at him in the paddock the other day and I just thought he looked like he might need the run, whereas the other fella was spot-on.

“Wherever it’s soft ground, that’s where he’ll go.”