RACEHORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION – RACEHORSE OF THE YEAR 2005
THE RACING POST
Published: 11/12/2005 (Sport) PAUL EACOTT
CHRIS DEUTERS, president of the Racehorse Owners' Association, yesterday spoke of his delight after his members voted overwhelmingly in favour of crowning Sergeant Cecil Racehorse of the Year at Thursday night's ROA/Racing Post Horseracing Awards ceremony at London's Park Lane Hilton.
Along with the 7,200 ROA members, the votes of Racing Post readers resulted in the six-year-old running away with the main prize after he polled almost twice as many votes as runner-up Moscow Flyer.
Rod Millman's stable star rewrote the history books when completing an unprecedented hat-trick of big handicap successes in the summer, following up his Northumberland Plate victory with wins in the Ebor and Cesarewitch - an achievement that Deuters reck-ons merited Thursday's accolade.
"I was pleased that Sergeant Cecil won as it was a unique achievement to win the three races he did, and no disrespect to the equine bluebloods, but on this occasion the ROA members seemed to have voted with their hearts," Deuters said. "I was delighted for Rod Millman. He's a softly spoken, modest man and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person."
OUTSTANDING HANIDAPPER OF THE YEAR - 2005
Unsurprisingly, Sergeant Cecil was also named outstanding handicapper of 2005 on what proved to be a memorable night for owner Terry Cooper.
Millman yesterday described Thursday night as a "fantastic" way to round off a year that has seen his Cullompton yard pick up more than £600,000 in prize-money. He said: "It was a fantastic night and I can't thank the ROA members and Racing Post readers enough for voting for us. "It means a hell of a lot and it's lovely for the horse to be appreciated. He's at Paradise Stud now, which is a couple of miles from Terry's house. He'll come back to me in mid-January and, if he improves a little bit, hopefully he'll have a chance in the Cup races next season."
THE RACING POST POLL
100 GREATEST TRAINING FEATS
37
Rod Millman
Sergeant Cecil, 2005 Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch
What made it great
There is a reason that no horse had carried off this valuable treble of staying handicaps in the same season - it's an incredibly demanding task. However, Sergeant Cecil proved equal to it in an incredible campaign plotted to perfection by Rod Millman. A model of consistency in previous seasons, Millman coaxed further improvement out of the six-year-old in winning the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and the Ebor at the big York meeting, and took him to Newmarket in October on the back of runner-up spot in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup. Sergeant Cecil's progress had been noted by the handicapper and he was asked to defy his highest-ever handicap mark, but Millman had held a little back for the hat-trick bid and Sergeant Cecil stormed home to clinch a unique three-timer. SD
Horse Racing: SERGEANT SALUTED AT AWARDS CEREMONY
Published: 06/11/2006 (Sport)
WHILE Sergeant Cecil continues his recovery from an injury sustained in the Prix Royal-Oak last month, owner Terry Cooper is still marvelling at the popularity of his gallant seven-year-old among the racing public.
Cooper collected the trophy for the racing category in the annual Animal Health Trust UK equestrian awards at a gala event in London last week. This is the second time in a year that Sergeant Cecil has topped a poll among Racing Post readers.
"Cecil just keeps overwhelming me with his wins and all he does," said Cooper.
Cecil at the yard with lass Sue. Photo by John Whistler.
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