Champions Day is always an emotional one coming as it does at the end of the flat season. A day of farewell to old friends and the season – and a hint of what the next one might hold. 2005 was no exception. A lifesize bronze was unveiled to the stayer who had captivated racegoers like no other since Brown Jack in the ‘30s. And Persian Punch’s fans had turned out to say their final farewell to their friend unaware that by the end of the day they would reach out to another stayer who, despite his achievements would be seen as, ‘not a champion’ just as Punch had. Stayers hold a special place in the hearts of their fans. For their courage beyond the call of duty and the many years service they often put in. Geldings also hold our hearts for a reason, they race on while others go to stud and paddock and unfortunately they often are forgotten in the long corridors of history. But not all of them.
Punch had been there for us for so long he was one of the family, very hard to say goodbye to and even harder to believe that we would ever have another friend anywhere near like him. But when you lose a pet they always say that the greatest compliment to them is to have another one. Punch was such a credit to his species, and he represented geldings everywhere who take part and do their best. It was not about money, or stud fees. It was racing at it’s very best.
His fans had been in mourning since his death in 2004, but there had been a vein of light on the horizon. Sergeant Cecil arrived to lift the gloom and the three races no horse had ever won before. On Champions Day 2005 Persian Punch, now in bronze form, seemed to watch over Sergeant Cecil as he made his way into that hallowed parade ring and Winner’s Enclosure. We know he would approve and the cheer that greeted Cecil when he came in proved that the racegoers at Newmarket who have witnessed such glory approved too.
It was a glorious day, sunshine, a fitting final tribute to Punch and a new friend. Long live stayers!
As everyone knows Punch never got his elusive Group 1 he so deserved. Cecil re-fuelled that Group 1 dream and kept it in our thoughts over winter. Would he do it ? Wait and see! (He did in 2006.)
What about that Ascot Gold Cup. The dream lives on.
(words by Lee-Ann Day-Whistler)
15th of october 2005: totesport Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+)
1 Sergeant Cecil 28 B R Millman 6 9-8 Alan Munro 10/1
2 ¾ King Revo (IRE) 1 P C Haslam 5 8-3 Philip Robinson 20/1
3 2 Inchnadamph 4 T J Fitzgerald 5 8-0 1t Martin Dwyer 50/1
4 2 Vinando 11 C R Egerton 4 9-3 tb L Dettori 25/1
5 3 Elusive Dream 10 Sir Mark Prescott 4 8-9 Seb Sanders 11/1
6 1 Land ´n Stars 22 Jamie Poulton 5 9-0 7 Paul Doe 9/1
7 hd Mirjan (IRE) 36 L Lungo 9 8-7 b Paul Mulrennan(3) 16/1
8 nk Escayola (IRE) 9 W J Haggas 5 8-6 tb John Egan 16/1
A particularly rough race, with the big field bunching badly into the final four furlongs, although it did not look to impact much on the result with the possible exception of Vinando.
SERGEANT CECIL completed a unique treble of the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and this big handicap. He has proved himself a class act over staying trip this season and got into this race 5lb well-in, having been reassessed after his fine second to Millenary in the Doncaster Cup. He was given an ice-cool ride and benefited from staying close to the inside rail and taking the shortest way home, unlike some of his rivals. King Revo looked to have gone beyond recall as Sergeant Cecil waited for a gap, but he picked up strongly and won a shade cleverly.
Having improved more than a stone this year in the toughest races, and possibly been outsmarted by Millenary in top form, he looks a leading contender for Cup honours, especially if Westerner is retired.
The Racing Post
Champions Day: History maker Cecil gets loudest cheer
Published: 16/10/2005 (Sport) TONY ELVES
THE Group race fare on show was the main draw for a packed Champions Day crowd at Newmarket, but there was no disputing the most vociferous reception on the return to the winner's enclosure as Sergeant Cecil created a piece of history when humping 9st 8lb to victory under Alan Munro in the Totesport Cesarewitch.
A plan that only came under consideration at York in August reached glorious fruition as the Rod Millman-trained gelding became the first horse to land the great staying handicap treble of the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and yesterday's two-and-a-quarter-mile marathon.
An elated Millman, whose stable star could easily come into consideration for Horse of the Year honours, said: "We were thinking about the Jockey Club Cup, but when I was told that no-one has ever done it, I thought let's try it. It was wonderful just to have been able to have a crack and unbelievable to have actually achieved it.
"The credit has to go to a good horse, good staff and a good jockey. I've been at the sales all week but the horse has been in safe hands at home under my head groom Jim Davies, and Alan has been amazing and rides this horse so well. He needs a confident jockey on him and someone who isn't going to panic if he gets boxed in."
Millman added: "I've had him since the middle of his three-year-old career, and although he has run a lot, he has never been overraced and has had some long breaks between his races. The Doncaster Cup was really a bit of an afterthought, but now we shall have to start thinking about the Cup races for him next season."
To underline the achievements of Sergeant Cecil this season, the last bid for the treble was by Pillio in 1911.
Before that only Victor Emmanuel, in 1882, and Underhand, in 1859, arrived at the Cesarewitch capable of landing all three races in the same campaign.
In winning the three pots, Terry Cooper's stayer has earned £309,800.
As you would expect in a 34-runner handicap, there was a wall of horses racing close together across the course going into the final half-mile, with Odiham holding sway at that stage until King Revo made a bold bid for glory when sweeping into the lead over two furlongs out.
However, Sergeant Cecil, who had always been on the premises, was in full flight inside the final furlong and stayed on strongly near the finish to complete his historic treble with a three-quarter-length victory.
Alan Munro, who returned to race-riding this season after ten years in the wilderness, said: "Rod has been brilliant, not only with this horse but also for me. When I came back at the start of the year Rod was the first man to pick me up and get me going. His early two-year-old winners helped to get me back on the map again.
"When I pulled him out I was confident we'd catch King Revo, even though he had quite a good lead. He's a great horse to ride, and he'll fight to hold his place if you want him to."
race result
Cesarewitch 1 Sergeant Cecil 10-1
2 King Revo 20-1
3 Inchnadamph. 50-1
4 Vinando 25-1
Trainer: Rod Millman Jockey: Alan Munro Owner: Terry Cooper
Breeder: D E Hazzard Groom: Sue Davey Distances: 3 / 4l, 2l, 2l
The Racing Post
Champions Day: Remarkable - that's the verdict of historian John Randall, and he doesn't say these things lightly
Published: 16/10/2005 (Sport) JOHN RANDALL
SERGEANT CECIL has stamped himself a remarkable performer in becoming the first horse to win the three major staying handicaps, the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch.
He may be no champion, but he can stand comparison with Lochsong who, in 1992, also won three of the season's biggest handicaps; the Stewards' Cup, Portland and Ayr Gold Cup.
Lochsong is likely to be the better remembered as she became a champion in Pattern races in two subsequent seasons.
Both were unique in their achievements, yet unique does not equate to great as the achievement is attained for the first time usually because it has not been attempted often.
Sergeant Cecil has some way to go to stand comparison with the best post-war performers in handicaps.
Sayani proved himself a champion when winning the Cambridgeshire in 1946 while Pappa Fourway was champion sprinter in 1955 when his wins included the Gosforth Park Sprint Cup. However, Sergeant Cecil would probably be 21lb below those horses. There is simply not the level of competition in handicaps that there was before the birth of the Pattern.
Fifty years ago or more the best horses all ran in handicaps. In 1865 Gladiateur was beaten in the Cesarewitch after winning the Triple Crown.
The Independant on Sunday, Oct 16th, 2005
Racing: Sergeant Cecil takes the footslogger's route to dreamland
Sergeant Cecil, the horse named as a monument to a soldier, proved himself a valiant warrior without peer here yesterday. With a victory in the Cesarewitch to follow those in the Northumberland Plate and Ebor Handicap, the chestnut six-year-old became the first horse in history to win the season's three top staying handicaps. Such is the difficulty of the feat that only three before him had even tried; the last to succeed in the first two legs was Pillo back in 1911.
The story of the gallant gelding has been one of the fairytales of the year. His exploits have put his stable, that of the small- time West Country trainer Rod Millman, and his jockey Alan Munro, in his first season back in Britain after exile in Hong Kong and a four- year sabbatical from the sport, firmly in the spotlight. Humbly bred, cheaply bought, Sergeant Cecil is an inspiration to the grassroots of the Turf.
Terry Cooper, Sergeant Cecil's owner, explained the origin of his beloved gelding's name. 'My father died when I was nine,' he said. 'His name was Cecil Edward Cooper and he had been a sergeant-major in the First World War. But when he died, my mum was struggling and the poor chap never had a proper headstone to his grave. As the years went on, I meant to buy him one but it never got done. We called Cecil after him, and he has proved a lot better than a piece of stone.'
As Munro returned on the brave Sergeant, a 10-1 shot, after his three- length victory in the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest first run in 1839, Cooper deflected credit towards the pair. 'Not much to do with me,' he said, 'it's those two. What a horse, and what a jockey.'
Unusually for a marathon specialist, Sergeant Cecil is no mere plodder. He has a considerable engine, and several gears, and in Munro has found a perfect partner. 'He needs a confident rider,' said Millman, 'one not afraid to have patience, even to get boxed in, and pounce late.'
Munro demonstrated the duo's modus operandi to perfection, burying Sergeant Cecil in the pack until bursting clear inside the final furlong to catch the one in front who had gone for home, King Revo (20-1). Inchnadamph (50-1) claimed third spot, ahead of Vinando (25-1) and Elusive Dream. The 3-1 favourite, Afrad, came in 28th of 34.
'I don't think I've ever ridden a horse who helps me more,' said Munro. 'He travels so easily, and I can place him where I want. If there's a gap, he has the tactical speed to go through, and then he'll relax again and wait for the next instruction. Just professionalism and class.'
Sergeant Cecil, picked up for peanuts by Cooper as a foal, has now earned more than pounds 400,000.
Sue Montgomery
Copyright 2005 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Happy faces after Sergeant Cecil made history on the Rowley Mile:
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A personal view by Catrin:
Champions´ Raceday 2005 will, for us at least, forever be associated with the unveiling of the Persian Punch Statue. The great late Punch, if not the greatest, so certainly the most determined stayer of our time, whose tragic death in 2004 inspired the Fund in his name, for his own lifesize memorial. In 2005 our dream came true, and even though the real Punch will never be with us again, his Bronze will be a reminder of a great horse, for generations to come.
We were busy working for the Fund that day, and could not really leave our tent, so big screen it was, and me being busy to find his colours in the pack. It took me ages to pick The Cecil, a furlong to think he would not make it, and the last glorious furlong of stamping and shouting to cheer him on, knowing nothing would stop him now. Even though The Cecil was only a dot on a screen, history was happening just meters away from me, and the moment was not lost on me - it certainly was a moment to think back and say " But I was there" as I was at Punch´s last win, at the same venue, in 2003.
Another chestnut chose this day to step on the big stage, what else could we do but take him into our hearts ?
And this website was born to thank for him.
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