Wednesday 8th October 2008
Cecil gearing up for the big one
HENRY CECIL galloped his Emirates Airline Champion Stakes contenders Phoenix Tower and Twice Over on the Newmarket gallops at a media morning staged by the racecourse.
The legendary trainer has already won the prestigious Group 1 on two previous occasions with Indian Skimmer and Bosra Sham.
Now he is hoping he can land a third triumph in the race which is scheduled for Saturday October 18 at The NatWest Rowley Mile, Newmarket.
This morning an assembled media throng gathered before dawn to head out onto the gallops with Cecil, who exercised several current stars as well as several exciting prospects.
The venue of choice was the Al Bahathri polytrack where Cecil was assisted by jockeys Tom Queally, Eddie Ahern, Ted Durcan and Jimmy Quinn.
But it was Phoenix Tower’s regular work-rider Tony Proctor who was aboard the four-year-old as he strode out majestically over 7.5f.
He went on from Tranquil Tiger in a blow-out that more than satisfied Cecil.
The trainer was similarly pleased with Twice Over, who had the benefit of Tom Queally for company.
He moved well within himself on the near rail alongside Unnefer and Many Volumes.
Cecil said: “Phoenix Tower is an improving horse and seems in very good order. Hopefully, he will have a great chance in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
“The race will be the first time that Twice Over has been asked to take on older horses. Until now I have kept him to his own age group as he was on the backward side.
“But now I feel he is ready to take his chance against his elders and I hope he will run well.”
Cecil also confirmed his four-year-old charge Ajaan is on course for a tilt at the totesport.com Cesarewitch on Champions’ Day.
He said: “I hope Ajaan will run in the totesport.com Cesarewitch as he seems very well. He will appreciate the likely give in the ground and hopefully he can run a decent race.”
By Tony Rushmer
