The region's leading trainer was sitting on 999 career victories since Ale Magic saluted on May 25.

That all changed at Kembla Grange on Thursday, Burning Need claiming a 1200 metres maiden, to take Markwell to 1000 victories.

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Typically understated, Markwell played down the magnitude of her achievement after the race.

It was fitting that a Matthew Sandblom runner was the one to reach the milestone, the businessman supporting the trainer for more than 20 years.

Sandblom was the owner of Markwell's favourite horse, Rolling Pin.

The gelding went on to win the Group 2 Shannon Stakes in 2012, the trainer still confident he would have won an Epsom had he not broken down.

"It's been a good result for Matthew Sandblom," Markwell's racing manager Ross McConville said. "He owns the winner and also owns a big share in the second horse, so he should be happy.

"He is a great supporter of the stable and we really appreciate his support."

Burning Need is a lightly raced mare, Thursday's effort the fifth start of her career.

Dropping back from 1400m in her last run, jockey Keagan Latham worked the four-year-old into space at the top of the straight before she dashed home to defeat Just Tozza and Carlisle Bay.

Latham was impressed with the turn of foot and predicted more victories for Burning Need in the future.

"Coming to the top of the straight I was quite over the moon with the way she quickened up," Latham said.

"She really quickened up very well in my hands and I was relatively easy on her the last 100, she won a lot easier than the margin suggested.

"I think she's a smart filly and she'll hopefully keep going through the grades."

Burning Need's win came as Matthew Dunn enjoyed a double through Darby pair Crazy Train and Soami.

Kathy O'Hara rode the latter to victory before she returned in the final race of the day to guide Gary Portelli's Unrelenting to a big win.

Another Darby horse, the three-year-old took out the 1500m BenchMark 64 by two lengths and the trainer said he will head straight to the city after that showing.

"It was quite unrelenting wasn't he," Portelli said. "He was never going to let them past him. It's good for our syndicators Darby Syndications, that's their 100^th winner for the season.

"He's been a work in progress, it took a lot to get him fit. I don't think I've worked a horse as hard as this horse to get him into shape, but he's been sound and he stood up to everything and I think we found the key to him today, 1500, 1600 no problem at all."