Trainer in confident mood on eve of Champions Day
WHAT a difference a week can make to the fortunes of a racing yard.
On Wednesday, trainer Henry Cecil was looking forward to saddling two fancied runners in Saturday's Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes but by Monday his strike-force had been halved with the news that the much-fancied Phoenix Tower had knocked himself in his box and sustained tendon injury which necessitated his immediate retirement.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: "Obviously it is disappointing as we were really looking forward to the weekend and he would have had a great chance.
"He was in really good form and it is a real shame as if ever a horse deserved to win a Group 1 it was him."
Disappointing for all concerned but Cecil has been used to knockbacks particularly over the past couple of seasons when he has got used to those two famous Kipling imposters, triumph and disaster, and knows just how to treat them.
Disaster – the diagnosis two years ago of stomach cancer which he is resolved to beat and is typically upbeat about his prospects.
"I am having chemo at the moment and I just keep positive. I am sure that in the end I shall be alright. It is a nuisance but I shall keep positive. I haven't won the battle yet but I will one day I hope."
Triumph – as a 10-times champion trainer, who has forgotten more about the game than most could learn in a lifetime, he has seen plenty of that and greets his winners with humility and, more recently, the odd tear, a reflection of how much success at the top level still means.
Warren Place hopes in Saturday's big race now rest with Twice Over, the one-time Guineas and Derby fancy.
Talented Tom Queally, the 2004 champion apprentice, who has been taking the lion's share of rides for Cecil in recent weeks, partnered the colt in a smooth piece of work on the Al Bahathri Polytrack on Wednesday – his 24th birthday – and on Tuesday it was confirmed that he will partner Twice Over for the first time in public in the Champion.
"He is starting to come to himself now and has improved. If the ground did come up with a bit of juice it would favour him and he would go there with a live chance," said Queally.
His trainer was also happy with his progress."I feel he is ready to take his chance against his elders and I hope he will run well," said Cecil. "The mile and a quarter is probably his best trip and I am very happy with the progress he has made throughout the year."
Cecil, who has trained 46 winners so far this year, has two other runners to look out for over the two-day Newmarket meeting.
On Our Way is set for the Houghton Conditions Stakes tomorrow and Ajaan in the Cesarewitch.
"Ajaan should get the two-and-a-quarter mile trip. He seems in good order and will appreciate the likely give in the ground and hopefully he can run a good race," said Cecil.
"On Our Way has proved himself very tough and he takes his races very well."
Next year marks Cecil's 40th as a trainer in Newmarket and, for close on half of that time, he has dominated his sport. He trained his first winner in 1969 and on Wednesday said he still loved the sport.
"I have been enjoying training much more these last two years than for a long time. It's a challenge but I don't want to be among the also rans and I like it when my back is against the wall. I am training better than I have ever done."
At 65, Cecil is a racing icon who surely belongs in the winners' enclosure on Newmarket's day of Champions and if he can pull it off on Saturday there won't be a dry eye in the house.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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