IT WAS a day for stayers at York, and not only in the heaving bars. Out on the Knavesmire, three of the first four races were over marathon trips and, with due respect to the striking victories of Rising Cross and Sunday Symphony, the indelible memories were provided by a horse that is now a national treasure.
The rise and rise of Sergeant Cecil has become a monument of hope to all involved in racing but it has reached the stage where even his admirable trainer is shaking his head in disbelief. After watching the seven-year-old claim his second group two win on this course in the space of 17 days, Rod Millman admitted: “I never dreamt it would come to this. When he reached 85 in the ratings two years ago I thought he’d be hard to win with, but here he is winning group races.
“It doesn’t happen very often, especially with a horse of his age, and because he was favourite today I felt more pressure than for any other race. He’s had to work hard but he won — and we’re privileged to have him.”
With five of the eight-strong field for the GNER Doncaster Cup coming on from the Lonsdale Stakes at the Ebor meeting, Sergeant Cecil was inevitably a short price to improve on his second place of last year, when the race was run at its customary home of Doncaster.
Kasthari, given a positive ride by Darryll Holland, ensured a good gallop and was still in contention as Frankie Dettori burst through on the favourite approaching the furlong pole. Jockey and trainer both feared he had struck the front too soon but Sergeant Cecil stayed on gamely to repel the late rally of Alcazar and survive a stewards’ inquiry.
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A relieved Dettori said: “He hasn’t stopped surprising people and he’s become a household name. I felt the pressure today, too, because everyone expects him to win and I didn’t want to mess up.”
Millman will now send his flagship horse from Devon to Paris for the Prix du Cadran on Arc day. “I’ve never had a runner at Longchamp before, so we’ll need to get the map out,” he said.
John Best, who trains an even smaller string than Millman’s in rural Kent, also has a race at the Arc meeting on his mind after the first group win of his burgeoning career in the Park Hill Stakes. It was appropriate that Rising Cross secured the landmark after her two placed runs behind Alexandrova in the English and Irish Oaks.
This was not only her first try at an extreme trip but her first run in Britain since being sold to Gary Tanaka, the exiled businessman, who remains under house arrest in New York on fraud charges.
Best had steeled himself to lose the filly to an American yard when Tanaka ran her in Chicago last month but after this resolute win at 16-1, she will surely be staying put. “Everyone writes her off,” Best said emotionally, “but she keeps battling back.”
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“I’m pleased for Mr Tanaka as he paid a lot of money to buy this horse and I’m delighted we have still got her. I’ve got about 40 horses now and this is very timely as I’ve just bought 11 yearlings and we need to sell them.”
Dettori initiated a double with a strolling success on Sunday Symphony in the Mallard Stakes but he had to settle for third spot in the Flying Childers Stakes behind the impressive Wi Dud, finally breaking a group-race duck this season for Kevin Ryan, his trainer.
Wi Dud was in such command that Neil Callan audaciously took a pull at the furlong marker before pressing clear of Bahama Mama and Hoh Mike. “It’s the sign of a very good horse when the jockey can afford to do that,” Ryan said admiringly.