Following the announcement of a knighthood for Henry Cecil, we look at 10 great horses trained by the Newmarket maestro.
Frankel just one of the glittering stars
Following the announcement of a knighthood for Henry Cecil, we look at 10 great horses trained by the Newmarket maestro.
OH SO SHARP: Famously won the fillies' triple crown of 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger in 1985 with Steve Cauthen in the saddle. Heartbreakingly denied victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes that year in a remarkable campaign as Willie Carson and Petoski challenged wide and late.
ROYAL ANTHEM: A huge, powerful colt, and a winner at Royal Ascot, he was never better than the day he won the Juddmonte International in 1999, where he was simply spectacular. American Gary Stevens took the ride and they strolled down the York straight eight lengths clear of the high-class Greek Dance.
SLIP ANCHOR: Owned by Lord Howard de Walden, his 1985 Derby-winning effort will always be remembered as one of the great Epsom performances as he bowled along under that supreme judge of pace Cauthen and had the race won before turning into the straight.
BOSRA SHAM: One of Cecil's favourites, his pain when she was beaten in the 1997 Eclipse was very evident. But she enjoyed many brilliant days, winning the 1000 Guineas and Champion Stakes in 1996, and the Prince of Wales's Stakes the following year. The Champion Stakes win was a poignant one as it was the year after the trainer split with Sheikh Mohammed, who sponsored the race and owned runner-up Halling. The Sheikh handed Cecil the prize afterwards.
KRIS: A supreme miler, Kris was second to Tap On Wood in the 1979 2000 Guineas but proved his worth with wins that year in the St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He returned as a four-year-old to land the Lockinge at Newbury and was beaten just twice in a 16-race career.
FRANKEL: We should have known Frankel was going to be very special from early in his two-year-old days as the usually reticent Cecil waxed lyrical. But no-one could have predicted what he would do in this year's 2000 Guineas as he produced a jaw-dropping effort, having the Classic won by halfway with the crowd starting to applaud two furlongs out.
ARDROSS: A great of the staying division, landing the Ascot Gold Cup in 1981 and 1982 for Lester Piggott. Previously trained by Paddy Prendergast in Ireland, he was second to the Cecil-trained Le Moss - another dual Gold Cup hero - in 1980. To emphasise just what a great horse he was, Ardross was beaten just a head in the 1982 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the final race of his career.
MIDDAY: Yet another from the Cecil dynasty of fillies and could easily have been another 0aks winner. Has not looked back since that narrow reverse to Sariska, piling up five Group one wins, including back-to-back success in the Nassau Stakes and landmark Breeders' Cup glory in America.
REFERENCE POINT: Winner of what is now the Racing Post Trophy in 1986 as the stable second-string, Reference Point won the Derby and St Leger the following year, and remains the last Epsom winner to go on to win at Doncaster in the final Classic of the season.
LIGHT SHIFT: Not the greatest horse to pass through Warren Place, but her 2007 Oaks win was a landmark one, returning as it did her trainer to his rightful place at the top. Cecil, like most of those in attendance, was fighting back the tears afterwards. A great sporting moment.
