History was made at Taylorstown on Saturday as Kruzhlinin became the first horse in the modern era to win nine races in a single point-to-point season.
Gordon Elliott’s charge was turned out just six days after he had re-joined Longhouse Music at the top of the champion point-to-point horse leaderboard with an effortless eighth success at Oldcastle last Sunday.
With Jamie Codd back aboard, the 12-year-old faced six rivals in the Boyd Stores open lightweight at the Newry Harriers fixture on Saturday afternoon including recent Loughbrickland winner Sambremont, however it was the 2016 champion Anseanachai Cliste, that provided him with one of his greatest challenges this season.
Codd had to shake up Gordon Elliott’s charge in the home straight to account for the back-to-form 11-year-old, but Kruzhlinin ultimately came out on top by three lengths, with the pair pulling a full 15 lengths clear of Sambremont back in third.
The success for the Camilla Sharples-owned chestnut ensures that he becomes the first horse to move to the nine-winner mark, one more than Battlefront, The Hollinwell, Ourmanmassini and Sydney Paget all achieved on their way to win the champion point-to-point horses title, and Kruzhlinin now moves into pole position to become the 2019 champion.
Unbeaten in each of his starts between the flags this season following a trio of successes at Tinahely alongside victories at Moig South, Corbeagh House, Tyrella, Kirkistown, Oldcastle and now Taylorstown, he is one clear of Longhouse Music, but suffered his first defeat of the campaign at Fairyhouse a day later.
Turned out just 24 hours after that record-breaking Taylorstown success, the 12-year-old met with defeat for the first time between the flags when Some Are Lucky lowered his colours in the novice riders contest.
That success keeping Some Are Lucky's own title hopes alive, as it saw him pick up a seventh success of the season.
Champion Point-to-Point Horse Roll of Honour
2018 Sydney Paget (Pat Doyle) - 8 wins
That success keeping Some Are Lucky's own title hopes alive, as it saw him pick up a seventh success of the season.
Champion Point-to-Point Horse Roll of Honour
2018 Sydney Paget (Pat Doyle) - 8 wins
2017 Ourmanmassini (Peter Flood) - 8 wins
2016 Anseanachai Cliste (Stephen McConville) - 7 wins
2015 Carrigeen Acebo (Dick Lalor) / Mr Bolt (Sean McParlan) - 7 wins
2014 The Hollinwell (Eugene O'Sullivan) - 8 wins
2013 Nedzers Return (Gordon Elliott) - 7 wins
2012 Battlefront (Ted Walsh) - 8 wins
2016 Anseanachai Cliste (Stephen McConville) - 7 wins
2015 Carrigeen Acebo (Dick Lalor) / Mr Bolt (Sean McParlan) - 7 wins
2014 The Hollinwell (Eugene O'Sullivan) - 8 wins
2013 Nedzers Return (Gordon Elliott) - 7 wins
2012 Battlefront (Ted Walsh) - 8 wins