Trudy gets her 1000th

CAMBRIDGE jockey Trudy Thornton scored her 1000th New Zealand career win at Tauranga yesterday.

She threw outsider Gangster’s Lass across the line in a display that typified her uncompromising riding style that has produced a flow of winners throughout her 30-plus years in the saddle.

Despite Gangster’s Lass rolling the hot favourite All Razzle Dazzle, oncourse punters forgot their losing tickets to give the 53-year-old a great reception as she reached the milestone on the John Revell-trained 3-year-old.

They were appreciative of her amazing career which has been interrupted by numerous injuries and suspensions and the raising of a family.

‘‘My family means everything to me and I’ve tried to keep a good balance between riding and my family,’’ she said.

It’s a life Thornton has loved and would do all over again.

‘‘I love it as much now as I did when I started,’’ she said.

Thornton tried hard to crack the milestone in the first race on the card but had to bow to a Graham Richardson-trained quinella when running third on Miss Catherine.

The Matamata trainer has been forced to can a 1000 Guineas campaign with winner Volpe Veloce but she vindicated the high opinion he holds of the Foxwedge filly with her third win from three starts.

She won both her starts last season including the Castletown Stakes.

Visiting Waverley jockey Johnathan Parkes came north to continue his association with Volpe Veloce.

‘‘She’s a very classy filly and has a lot ahead of her,’’ he said.

‘‘She won with a leg in the air."