Latest from Horse & Hound in Sir-henry-cecil

Oscar winner to play legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil in Frankel film

Lucy Elder — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:57:57 +0000

Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will play Sir Henry Cecil in a film about Frankel’s extraordinary career.

The British film star won the 1991 Academy Award for best actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune.

Jeremy Irons. (Image credit: GTRES/PA Images)

Frankel, produced by Eclipse Films, will chart the career of the unbeaten superstar. It will also focus on the bond between the horse and his late trainer.

“This is the story of how [Sir] Henry in his autumn years fought failure and illness to make Frankel the greatest champion racehorse of all time,” states the film’s synopsis.

“Unbeaten in all 14 starts, winning all the honours and bowing out with an emotional victory in front of a capacity crowd at Ascot. The connection between Henry and Frankel was almost spiritual.

“They had a bond and connection: it was as if Frankel seemed to understand everything that [Sir] Henry was telling him to do, and [Sir] Henry credits Frankel for pulling him through some of his darkest moments… Frankel was his second lease of life and they made history together.”

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(Image credit: EMPICS Sport)

The Queen unveils Frankel statue at Royal Ascot

A bronze statue of Frankel was unveiled by The Queen on the opening day of Royal Ascot

The film is produced by Eclipse Films, directed by Ron Scalpello and produced by John Sachs, Andrew Berg, Jeremy Irons and Kimberley Sachs. The script is written by Jim Piddock, who is also the executive producer.

Andrew Berg and John Sacs told screendaily.com that Jeremy was the “first choice” to play Sir Henry and that he has a “genuine love of horses”.

Sir Henry saddled 25 British Classic winners in his career, including Frankel, and also had a record 75 Royal Ascot wins.

The film’s release date and the actor who will play Frankel’s jockey, Tom Queally, are yet to be revealed.

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Frankel’s filly sells for 2.5m guineas: all you need to know about the top sire

Hannah Lemieux — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:25:14 +0000

He was a superstar on the racecourse and Frankel is now proving a success in the sales ring, as his progeny have taken centre stage during the Tattersalls October Yearling sale (3-14 October 2017) with one of his fillies selling for 2.5m guineas

He was a superstar on the racecourse and Frankel is now proving a success in the sales ring as his progeny have taken centre stage during the Tattersalls October Yearling sale (3-14 October 2017).

One of the highlights for the stallion’s fans was the remarkable sale of a Frankel filly for 2.5m guineas to new Japanese racing club DMM.com — who would not be outdone the following day with the purchase of another daughter of Frankel, forking out a further 1.4m guineas.

Frankel retired in 2012 unbeaten in 14 races, propelling Sir Henry back into the spotlight and boosting his career after some low years. The trainer died in June 2013 of cancer, and Lady Cecil took over the trainer’s licence. Frankel now stands at Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket.

To celebrate the late Sir Henry Cecil-trained wonder horse, we take a look back down memory lane — from his success on the track (video) to what Sir Henry’s widow Lady Cecil revealed about about her late husband and his extraordinary horse:

Can you tell us more about Frankel’s character and personality?

“Frankel is an intelligent and exuberant horse,” says Lady Cecil. “He has a magnificent action, with that extraordinary stride that made him stand out. Henry worked with him, along with his work-rider, Shane Fetherstonhaugh, to channel that enthusiasm in the best possible way. He learned to settle beautifully in his races. He was definitely a dominant male and, along with his three-parts brother Bullet Train, enjoyed leading the string out onto the heath every morning. It was fabulous for all of us to have such a charismatic and talented horse in the stable.”

Sir Henry had an intrinsic and unique connection with Frankel. Can you tell us a little more about it?

“Henry had a very strong connection with Frankel. The experience gained from working with racehorses all his life meant he just knew which way to go with Frankel at every turn. Indeed, in Henry’s mind’s eye, he understood how the horse would develop and at what pace. This allowed him to plan the horse’s campaign, in terms of what races he would take in, when to step up him in trip.”

“It is hard to know where to begin because there were so many special days — the 2000 Guineas, the first Sussex Stakes and, of course, his final race at Ascot. But I think the most exhilarating experience came at York when he won the Juddmonte International Stakes. Henry had undergone a lot of treatment in the build-up to the race and wasn’t feeling great, but he was absolutely determined to saddle the horse and be there for him. It was the first time Frankel had been asked to go a mile and a quarter, plus it was a race sponsored by the Prince. I recall there being a massive crowd and an incredible atmosphere at York that day and, of course, Frankel rose to the occasion. The effortless way he came past his rivals to lead and then go on was just amazing. And the reaction from the race-goers was magical. Henry seemed to get a major boost from watching Frankel win that day. I will never forget it.”

2014 Oaks run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil

Horse & Hound — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:30:23 +0000

Sir Henry Cecil is to be honoured this summer when the Oaks is run in his memory.

The 2014 Investec Oaks (in memory of Sir Henry Cecil) takes place on Friday 6 June at Epsom racecourse. It will be run in his name for a year.

Sir Henry had a total of 8 winners in the race, from 1985 to 2007. He died last June.

“I was delighted when I heard that Epsom wanted to celebrate Henry’s life and career by staging this year’s race in his memory,” said Sir Henry’s widow, Lady Cecil.

“The Oaks is the Classic in which Henry enjoyed the greatest success with a total of eight victories.”

“They were all special to him, but I can vividly recall his immense pleasure when Light Shift won the race in 2007 for the Niarchos Family. That was such a wonderful day for Henry and everyone at Warren Place.”

View H&H’s gallery in celebration of Sir Henry’s life and career here.

Henry Cecil celebrated at Ascot

Sophia Heath — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 13:00:35 +0000

The life of Sir Henry Cecil is to be celebrated at Ascot later this month in a new display.

Previously unseen memorabilia from Sir Henry’s home at Warren Place, Newmarket, will be displayed at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions day on Saturday, 19 October.

The 10-times champion trainer died on 11 June, aged 70. He had been suffering from cancer for many years. He enjoyed great success at the end of his career with Frankel, winner of last year’s Champion Stakes.

Sir Henry with his mother as a child (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The specially selected collection will include photographs from throughout his life and the flag he used to fly above his house after a Group One victory. Some of the trophies he won during his glittering 44-year career will also be on display, and there will a video of some of his great horses together with a tribute by Clare Balding.

“Henry loved Ascot and I know he would be delighted to have this exhibition there on British Champions Day,” said Sir Henry’s widow Lady Cecil.

Sir Henry out riding with his twin brother (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I hope people will enjoy seeing the photos and some of the things from our home that meant so much to him.”

Last month (16 September), Lady Cecil announced that she is planning to continue training at Warren Place. She was granted a temporary licence by the British Horseracing Authority after Sir Henry’s death in June, but will now undertake the necessary modules to complete the full trainer’s course.

Lady Cecil will continue training at Warren Place

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:00:06 +0000

Lady Cecil is to continue training at Warren Place in Newmarket, following the death of her husband Sir Henry, earlier this year.

Sir Henry, the 10-times champion Flat trainer, died on 11 June aged 70.

Lady Cecil was granted a temporary licence by the British Horseracing Authority in June to enable her to carry on running the yard. She sent out 2 winners at Royal Ascot — Riposte and Thomas Chippendale.

She now aims to complete the BHA training modules over the winter to secure a full licence.

“I have spoken to our owners and our staff and confirmed that it is my intention to carry on as trainer at Warren Place,” said a statement on the Warren Place website.

“It is too early to discuss stable string plans for next year and, in terms of our numbers, the yearling sales at Tattersalls are likely to have a bearing.

“We are aiming to be active at the sales, both for our existing owners and, hopefully, for potential new clients. Part of the challenge is to find new owners and we will be doing our best in that area.

“It’s hard to look too far into the future at this point, but I am optimistic that we can continue to achieve good results.

“We are lucky to be able to train from such a superb location as Warren Place. It is proven over the decades as a fabulous environment where horses can thrive. I am also fortunate that Henry built up such a strong team and in Mike Marshall I have an excellent assistant.

“The main aim is to make sure every horse sent here fulfils its potential and I would love to win a Group 1 so that we can once again raise the flag at Warren Place.”

A memorial service for Sir Henry was held at Ely Cathedral last week (Monday 16 September).

Sir Henry Cecil’s memorial service takes place today in Ely

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:39:00 +0000

Racing’s top names are expected to attend a memorial service for popular trainer Sir Henry Cecil today (Monday 16 September).

The 10-times champion trainer died aged 70 on 11 June. He had been suffering from stomach cancer since 2006.

Sir Henry was a much-loved figure in Newmarket and jockeys, owners, trainers and family will be attending today’s service at Ely Cathedral.

During his career Sir Henry saddled 25 British Classic winners including four in the Derby. He also had a record 75 winners at Royal Ascot and enjoyed much success in recent years with the unbeaten Frankel.

In 2011 Sir Henry was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Sir Henry Cecil: A Horse & Hound tribute

Horse & Hound — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:48:34 +0000

Legendary racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil died on Tuesday 11 June, aged 70.

During his career Sir Henry saddled 25 British Classic winners. He also had a record 75 winners at Royal Ascot. In recent years he was thrown into the spotlight for training unbeaten wonder horse Frankel.

H&H looks back at some recent career highlights in pictures.

Sir Henry Cecil dies aged 70

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:28:07 +0000

Ten-times champion racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil has died aged 70.

The influential Newmarket trainer had been suffering from stomach cancer since 2006 and died today (Tuesday 11 June).

“It is with great sadness that Warren Place Stables confirms the passing of Sir Henry Cecil earlier this morning,” read a statement on his website.

“Following communication with the British Horseracing Authority, a temporary licence will be allocated to Lady Cecil.”

During his career Sir Henry saddled 25 British Classic winners — including four in the Derby. He also had a record 75 winners at Royal Ascot.

Sir Henry started his career in 1964 as assistant to his step-father, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, before taking out his own licence in 1969. His first winner came on 17 May of that year, Celestial Cloud at Ripon.

In 1975 Sir Henry trained his first British Classic winner, Bolkonski who took the 2000 Guineas before going on to win the St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. Sir Henry suffered a slump in the late 1990s but in 2007 a win in the Oaks with Light Shift signalled a comeback.

And in recent years he was responsible for the world’s best racehorse, the mighty Frankel, who retired unbeaten last October after winning 14 races and nine Group Ones.

In 2011 Sir Henry was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Today tributes from the racing world poured in on Twitter for the popular trainer.

Roger Charlton: “Condolences to all Sir Henry Cecil’s family. He has been so brave and courageous fighting cancer for so long. Rest in peace Henry. ‪#braveman”

Luca Cumani: “What sad news about Henry. A brilliant trainer and a brave man to have successfully fought the disease for so long. RIP Maestro.”

Johnny Murtagh: “A sad day for racing we have lost a true ambassador for our sport in Sir Henry Cecil privileged to have ridden for him ‪#truegentleman”

Charlie Hills: “Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Sir Henry Cecil. Lucky enough to spend time with him and receive some of his pearls of wisdom”

Kim Bailey: “One of my greatest racing heroes Sir Henry Cecil. A real gent and a brilliant trainer. RIP”

David Pipe: “So very sorry to hear the news of Sir Henry Cecil’s passing — a legendary trainer and true gentleman. He will be missed by everyone in racing”

Kirsty Milczarek: “So very sorry to hear Sir Henry Cecil has lost his long battle, thoughts with Lady Cecil and his family at this time #sleeptightRIP”

Frankel wins 14 out of 14 and retires to stud

Horse & Hound — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:59:23 +0000

Frankel, the best racehorse in the world, lived up to all the hype and won the QIPCO Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot to complete his unbeaten career.

Trained by Sir Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Queally, Frankel has now won all of his 14 starts. He will now be retired to stud.

The four-year-old son of Galileo was slow to leave the stalls but quickly settled to the outside of the field in fourth place, with his brother and regular lead horse Bullet Train making the pace with the French-trained winner of this race last year, Cirrus Des Aigles.

Queally made his move on Frankel with two furlongs to go and swept past the mud-loving Cirrus Des Aigles to a tremendous roar from the capacity crowd.

But the very soft ground made Frankel work harder than he has usually had to and he couldn’t stretch away in the manner of his dramatic wins at Goodwood and York this summer.

He reached the winning post a comfortable length and three-quarters ahead of the game Cirrus Des Aigles with Nathaniel – who finished second to Frankel in their first ever race as two-year-olds – back in third place.

“He’s the supreme equine athlete,” said Lord Grimthorpe, Frankel’s owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager. “We won’t see his like again.”

Sir Henry Cecil said: “I can’t believe in the history of racing there’s ever been a better racehorse. I’ve enjoyed every moment of training him, although it’s been slightly strenuous at times. He didn’t enjoy the ground, although I think I’ve got him too relaxed now — he had plenty in hand.”

Order this great new DVD that celebrates Frankel’s incredible career, from the Horse & Hound shop.

Frankel returns to action in the Lockinge Stakes

Horse & Hound — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:07:08 +0000

Frankel – the world’s highest rated horse – will make his seasonal debut tomorrow (Saturday, 19 May) at Newbury, aiming for his 10th consecutive victory.

The unbeaten four-year-old, will race in the Group One Lockinge Stakes over a mile. He is short-priced favourite to make a victorious return to the track.

Sir Henry Cecil, who trains the Galileo colt, is delighted that his owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah, has decided to race the horse for another season.

He said: “I’m glad because I think he’s a stronger horse now and hopefully he will be even better.

“If you have a horse of that calibre, they don’t come along like that every day and they don’t grow on trees.

“It’s nice to actually see his full potential and the prince has taken that chance.”

In April this year there were fears that Frankel would never race again, following rumours that a leg injury on the gallops would force him into early retirement. Fortunately after a thorough examination it transpired that the injury was only superficial.

Sir Henry is confident that the injury will not inhibit Frankel’s future performance.

“It shouldn’t recur, it’s fine,” he said. “It was just a hiccup you don’t want.”

Prince Abdullah’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, feels that Frankel must be at his best to triumph tomorrow.

He said: “Hopefully he’ll bring his A-game to the table. You either bring your best or you don’t bother at all.”

“What we want to see is a good, solid performance and this is obviously the first stepping-stone on what we hope will be a very good year.

“His style is his own and we are all very conscious that we have something pretty extraordinary on our hands.”

Trying to deny Frankel his 10th success are two entries from the Aidan O’Brien stable, one of which is Excelebration, who finished four lengths behind Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Ascot last October, when trained by Marco Botti.

Frankel has won three other Group Ones – the 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes in 2011.

Amazing Frankel wins at Royal Ascot

Horse & Hound — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:56:03 +0000

The brilliant Frankel won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot today to stretch his unbeaten record to seven — but it was a close-run thing.

The 2000 Guineas winner only held off the fast-finishing Zoffany by three-quarters of a length, having stormed several lengths clear with a dazzling burst of acceleration round the home turn. Frankel looked to fade under Tom Queally and Ryan Moore drove Zoffany towards him, but the finishing post came in time to give Frankel his third Group One success.

His trainer, the soon-to-be-knighted Henry Cecil, said: “He settled really well — very, very well. The pacemaker went off quite fast and he was very, very settled and he [Tom Queally] had to ask him to take it up and he said when he was in front he thought he’d done enough.

“Tom said he was very settled and we can ride him properly now. The plan was to go before the bend like the Royal Lodge [which Frankel won at Ascot last autumn]. In the Royal Lodge the further he went the better he was, but he’s getting older and wiser now and he thought he’d done enough and was getting a bit bored.”

Canford beats Goldikova

Earlier, Richard Hughes rode Canford Cliffs to beat Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes. The Richard Hannon-trained Canford Cliffs has now won at Royal Ascot for three years in succession. He took the Coventry Stakes as a two-year-old, the St James’s Palace Stakes as a three-year-old last year and now the Group One for older milers.

“He’s very special to us — these sorts of horses don’t come around everyday,” said Richard Hannon. “He’s got a real old cruising speed and can also quicken.”

Goldikova, the French mare whose victory in this race at last year’s Royal meeting was the most popular of the week, just went down by a length after a great battle. Her jockey, Olivier Peslier, was carrying one pound overweight when he weighed out and a further pound overweight when he weighed in again — and was fined £650 for changing his equipment after initially weighing out.

British sprinter beats the best from overseas

Prohibit gave trainer Robert Cowell a first Group One win in the King’s Stand Stakes. The six-year-old son of Oasis Dream had never won about Listed level before. Ridden by Jim Crowley, Prohibit beat the Australian sprinter Star Witness by half a length, with the Hong Kong-based Sweet Sanette third, just ahead of Hungary’s popular representative Overdose.

Frankel is a stunning 2000 Guineas winner

Horse & Hound — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:23:40 +0000

Frankel put up an astonishing performance to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket today. The Henry Cecil-trained colt went to the front as soon as he broke from the stalls and stayed there, making all the running to take the first Classic of the season by six lengths.

Frankel drew further and further ahead of the other 12 Guineas runners – he was at least a dozen lengths in front at one stage – and just idled a touch when unchallenged in the final furlong, allowing Dubawi Gold, trained by Richard Hannon, to fight into second six lengths behind him at 33-1. It was one of the most brilliant performances ever seen in a Classic race.

Third by half a length was the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan, winner of the Craven Stakes here earlier in the month. It was a further 11 lengths back to the 200-1 shot Slim Shadey in fourth.

It gave Henry Cecil a 25th British Classic triumph. His first was Bolkonski in the 2000 Guineas in 1975. Frankel’s jockey, 26-year-old Tom Queally, was having his first ride in the race.

“He did it better than I ever thought he would,” said Queally. “The one thing that this horse can definitely do is gallop, and why take him back and prevent him from galloping? We’ll let him do what he enjoys doing but, by God, he showed them.”

Frankel, a son of Galileo out of the Danehill mare Kind, is owned and bred by Khalid Abdulla, who also won the 2000 Guineas with Known Fact, Dancing Brave and Zafonic. His latest Classic winner – his 11th in Britain – was named after the great American trainer Bobby Frankel, who trained the Saudi prince’s horse in the United States and who died of leukemia in November 2009.

After remaining unbeaten in his five previous races, including last year’s Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Frankel started odds-on at 1-2. Connections have stated that they will see how he comes out of the race before deciding on a next aim – he is entered in the Dante Stakes at York, traditionally the most significant Derby trial. The dramatic speed and acceleration he showed today may mean that the extra half-mile of the Derby is beyond him, in which case the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot would be the natural target.

Cheltenham blog: Henry Cecil trains a Cheltenham winner

Horse & Hound — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:19:24 +0000

Forget Big Buck’s. Yes, he was awesome, but the most exciting race of the day was – the charity race. Normally after the last race the crowd melts away like butter, but everyone was dying to see Henry Cecil saddle his first ever runner at a National Hunt meeting.

The legendary Flat trainer was guest of honour at Cheltenham today — it was his first Festival visit, unbelievably — and he ran a horse in the St Patrick’s Day Derby, a charity race in aid of Cancer Research UK. The 12 riders raised more than £150,000 between them, with Channel 4 Racing presenter Alice Plunkett whipping up about £53,000 on her own, according to her husband William Fox-Pitt.

Cecil was determined that he was going to make his only Cheltenham runner count, and ran the Niarchos Family’s Plato. According to HHO’s racing columnist Toby Coles, Plato had been working with multiple Group One winner Twice Over earlier in the year, and he was good enough to win a Newmarket maiden last August.

So no pressure for his rider, Lorna Fowler, then. Under her maiden name of Bradburne, Lorna has had plenty of race-riding experience — her mother Sue trains in Fife and her brother is professional jump jockey Mark Bradburne — but riding a Henry Cecil favourite was something entirely new.

The paddock was heaving before the race. All the jocks came out of the weighing room to support the riders; William Fox-Pitt towered above everyone; Jamie Redknapp and Jilly Cooper — bet you’ve never seen their names coupled before — turned up to cheer on Sky Sports News’ Rachel Wyse.

What seemed like all of Newmarket turned out to support Plato, including owner Maria Niarchos, and when Lorna duly brought the chestnut home in front — only by a length, but a very easy length — she got nearly as big a cheer as Ruby Walsh and Big Buck’s a couple of hours earlier. Alice Plunkett got to ride back into the winner’s enclosure by virtue of finishing fourth, which earned her a noisy round of applause.

Cecil is probably the most popular trainer in Europe, and it was a wonderful novelty to see him at the home of National Hunt racing.

Maria Niarchos summed up when she said afterwards: “That was excellent. I’ve never thought of having a winner at Cheltenham, but I’d follow Henry anywhere.” We all would.

Toby Coles’ racing diary: surviving in a cutthroat industry

Horse & Hound — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:47:38 +0000

The week started on a little bit of a low — Cotton King had to be withdrawn from his race at Lingfield due to a small temperature. At this time of year it is quite a common occurrence because of the change in weather, temperature, and in turn a change in their coats, and with this in mind, I threw the kitchen sink at him: antibiotics. Thankfully I think we caught it in time and stopped it before it became a problem. He is now once again bursting out of his skin and will hopefully run on the 27 October, all being well. But knowing him, he might thumb the page in the veterinary handbook and pick another ailment.

On Wednesday I was still in the deepest depths of prostituting myself at the sales. However, I was given a lifeline when I was asked to go and look at a yearling a couple of hours away, which I am to train. I just need to find someone to take on half of her. Funnily enough, I now know what Mr Cameron feels like — having gained the reins of control in these bleak economic times, survival is paramount. But surviving is one thing that humans are good at, along with killing each other.

This yearling filly has been given the best possible start to life, and it is now down to me that she fulfils her potential. While visiting her, I saw her older half-brother to see how she may turn out. His life story sounds like one of my semi-believable ones: he was trained in France when a plane crashed into his stables. He was set on fire, ending his very promising racing career! True…

Despite the respite of Wednesday it was back to the sales on Thursday and Friday, ending on Saturday. It was here that I once again learnt how cutthroat this industry really is. I found out on the grape vine that a horse I was hoping to train had gone to another trainer. All one can do is dust oneself down and get back into the ring.

Forthcoming runners and a real superhorse

On Friday Sammy and I galloped most of the yard, all of which went as expected. Littlemisssunshine runs today (Tuesday) at Lingfield, Dear Maurice on Saturday, and Cotton King on the 27th.

Main Beach, Eastern Chariot, and Charlie’s Boy will run in the middle of November. Lycidas, the half brother to Prix de l’Opera winner Lady Marian, thinks himself to be Manchester United’s replacement for Wayne Rooney. He has a football in his stable to keep him occupied, and now shows the talents of a premier league footballer — if better educated!

Saturday saw what was an amazing spectacle in anybody’s books. Henry Cecil’s unbeaten two-year-old Frankel stamped himself as a real superstar (see picture above). And so he should have — having been given the name Frankel he had to be a superstar. Bobby Frankel was one of the very best trainers America has seen; he trained many of Prince Khalid Abdullah’s horses to win the big races on the other side of the pond. I just hope in seventy-odd years when I have gone back to from where I came, there is another superstar running by the name of “Coles”!

It was lovely to see Mr Cecil and his wife so happy after the victory — relief, they had been vindicated.

Sammy’s out of luck

Sammy had the weekend off, and how she deserved it. She has worked like a slave for me since the sales had begun, and it was beginning to tell as she was coming down with a cold. My instructions to her for her weekend off were to go to bed, and don’t get out until Monday! I think she did as she was told, as she seems vastly improved.

However Monday mornings are not so much fun — for some reason, even though my horses get ridden every day, Monday is always interesting, as they are as fresh as can be! Just before we got onto our first lot, I saw a rather strange sight — Sammy jumping up and down on a brand new coat.

“What on earth are you doing?” I asked.

Her response was: “I hate new clothes, something always goes wrong!”

Well it did; while she was riding Main Beach he slipped and fell. It was a long way to fall, as he is BIG. Watching it, it looked like a giant tree being felled in the Amazon, followed by an earthquake as he hit the floor. Thankfully both are ok, if a little sore.

Man jailed for fraud after conning top trainer Henry Cecil

Horse & Hound — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:57:50 +0000

A man has been jailed for three years after conning trainer Henry Cecil and bloodstock agent Charles Gordon-Watson.

Michael Baker, from Maidstone, Kent, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 15 September after pleading guilty to four offences of false representation. He also admitted attempting to dishonestly obtain property.

The court heard that in April 2005, Mr Baker persuaded Mr Cecil to buy a £45,000 racehorse on his behalf. But Mr Cecil never received any of the money, and incurred “substantial costs” for training and stabling the horse that he consequently sold at a loss of £16,000.

And while Mr Baker was on bail for this offence, in October 2007, he defrauded bloodstock agent Charles Gordon-Watson by claiming to have £10million to spend on racehorses.

Mr Gordon-Watson subsequently bought three mares for over £2m at Tattersalls in December 2007.

But neither Mr Gordon-Watson nor Tattersalls were paid by Mr Baker (news, 27 March).

Mr Baker’s defence argued that he suffered from a personality disorder, saying his actions were not for personal gain.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (25 September, ’08)

Light Shift wins Vodaphone Oaks at Epsom

Horse & Hound — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:30:04 +0000

Seven years to the day after saddling his 23rd Classic winner Henry Cecil was given a heroes welcome at Epsom today after Light Shift had given him a record equalling eighth Vodafone Oaks and a 24th Classic in total.

The intervening seven years have been anything but happy for Cecil, both in his personal life and on the racecourse. A virus among his horses and the fact that his core patron, the old money owner-breeder, has become an endangered species has seen his numbers and, accordingly, success dwindle to a trickle.

But you don’t just start training badly and signs of the comeback, despite the trainer being treated through the winter for cancer, were evident before this meeting got underway. With the favourite, Passage of Light, and the marginally less fancied Light Shift in the race, it was just like old times for Cecil.

Light Shift, owned and bred by the Niarchos family who have supported Cecil since the early 80s, was taken wide round Tattenham Corner to avoid the rough and tumble of the pack by her jockey Ted Durcan who, in stark contrast to Cecil, was winning his first ever Classic.

He hit the front three out and looked to have built up an unassailable lead but Peeping Fawn, one of the four runners in the race trained by Aidan O’Brien, emerged from the pack and looked like catching her. Light Shift found more and battled home to win by half a length with four back to All My Loving.

After being given three cheers several times Cecil said: “I really appreciate all the support I’ve had. It’s lovely to be back — it’s a funny feeling, almost embarrassing. I was very worried when the other filly came to her. I didn’t favour one filly over the other but Passage of Time didn’t appear to stay.”

Frankie Dettori did not enjoy the best preparation for his 15th attempt at winning the Derby. Sixties Icon, the favourite, finished plum last in the Coronation Cup in which Aidan O’Brien was first and second with Scorpion and Septimus. His ride in the Oaks, Measured Tempo, only beat one horse home.

Vodaphone Oaks

1. Light Shift (T E Durcan) 13-2

2. Peeping Fawn (Martin Dwyer) 20-1

3. All My Loving (C Soumillon) 5-1

Don’t miss H&H Derby report online after the race tomorrow, plus indepth analysis of all the action from Epsom in next Thursday’s magazine (7 June, ’07)