Randjesfontein-based trainer Sean Tarry on Sunday day joined a unique band in the world of horseracing by notching up his 2,000th winner.

The moment came as the sun set over Turffontein racecourse in race nine, the second last race of the day, with Flash Burn, Tarry’s last runner of the evening.

Ridden by champion jockey Lyle Hewitson, the three-year-old colt took the 1600m Maiden Plate by leading virtually all the way.

Tarry (50) has risen rapidly to the top of the ranks of South African trainers in recent years.

To date, he has saddled 50 Grade 1 winners including the winners of the unofficial ‘Big Three’, the Vodacom Durban July (twice), J&B Met and Summer Cup.

Alastor was his first really big race winner when winning the Met under Garth Puller in 2005. His two July winners, Pomodoro and Heavy Metal came in 2012 and 2013 respectively, Piere Strydom on Pomodoro and S’Manga Khumalo on Heavy Metal both for stalwart owner Chris van Niekerk. Aslan won the Summer Cup in 2009 and the Gold Cup two years later.

Most recently it was his expert handling of twice Horse of the Year, Legal Eagle, who until recently had been unbeaten in 10 starts over 1600m, the gelding’s record including the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes three times each in succession.

Other champions among his 50 Gr1 winners included the two crack sprinting fillies Carry On Alice and National Colour. Sean with the assistance of his very strong team build a horse’s physical condition progressively, never forcing a horse to race before it is ready to ensure that it will do itself justice. “The horse will show you when it is ready,” is his motto.

Tarry savoured the moment of his 2000^th winner, praising his team for their hard work and said he was happy to be joining a select band of about half a dozen trainers who had achieved the feat.