2008 result

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Cecil Gives Newmarket Faithful Cause for Cheer
17/10/09

1 (8) Twice Over 14/1
2 (5) Mawatheeq 7/1
3 (14) Sariska 8/1

There could be no more popular winner on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile than one trained by Henry Cecil and particularly when that success comes in the feature race of the day, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Twice Over (pink cap)
© racing-images.co.uk

The Khalid Abdulla-owned Twice Over rose to the occasion in admirable fashion and sparked a rousing reception as he returned to the winner’s enclosure having provided Cecil with his third Champion Stakes victory and the first since Bosra Sham in 1996. He is now the joint most successful current trainer in the Group One contest along with Barry Hills. Twice Over finished second to New Approach in last year’s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

“He needed that and I was a bit worried about the ground today as he likes it a bit softer,” said the winning trainer. “It’s lovely for Prince Khalid Abdulla - he’s a very supportive man and he’s been very loyal to me. Jane, my wife, is not here today but if I didn’t have Jane I wouldn’t be here.

“It doesn’t matter how good (horses) are, if they are not enjoying themselves mentally they won’t do it,” Cecil added. “I think he’s a better horse than last year, he’s improved with age. He has confidence now and he’s been working really well.”

Reacting to the announcement of an objection lodged by the rider of the runner-up, Richard Hills, Cecil said: “I’m not worried. I wouldn’t have objected to that, I’m a sportsman.”

Jockey Tom Queally has enjoyed a tremendous season with Group One winners for Michael Bell (Art Connoisseur) and Jeremy Noseda (Fleeting Spirit) but he was particularly thrilled to land the Champion Stakes for his boss Cecil.

“This is something special riding a big winner for Henry - I could hear the cheers as I was coming in,” said Queally. “Twice Over hasn’t got home very well in some of his races but we can’t doubt what he’s done in the last furlong there.

“This horse deserves it - he has had so many near misses. Thankfully, the race went well and I got a nice run through. We got his confidence right back up with the last couple of runs and it paid off today.

"Henry could see it in his work in the mornings and he was bullish coming into to the race, even though he was a big price. There were better fancied horses today but Henry obviously saw something that nobody else did

“I just hope next year can be as good again. You need a lot of luck but I’ve had a lot of support from all the team at Warren Place and Henry has stood by me. He’s given me every chance. I got a good kick out of winning this. It’s reward for all those early mornings, watching your weight and long hours in the car. This is what it’s all about, those five seconds after you cross the line. It’s all about confidence and it’s great to be holding my own. As the year’s gone on I’ve been riding better horses. I just want to keep working away.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Twice Over H R A Cecil	T P Queally 9st 3lbs	14 - 1 Winner
2	Mawatheeq M P Tregoning	R Hills 9st 3lbs	7 - 1 1/2 length
3	Sariska M L W Bell	K Fallon 8st 9lbs	8 - 1 1 length
4	Pipedreamer J H M Gosden	S Sanders 9st 3lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
5	City Leader B J Meehan	T E Durcan 9st 3lbs	100 - 1 3/4 length
6	Fame And Glory A P O'Brien	J Murtagh 8st 12lbs	6 - 4 1 1/2 length
7	Barshiba D R C Elsworth	P Hanagan 9st 0lbs	33 - 1 3/4 length
8	Virtual J H M Gosden	J Fortune 9st 3lbs	33 - 1 1 1/4 length
9	Campanologist S bin Suroor	L Dettori 9st 3lbs	25 - 1 11 lengths
10	Never On Sunday J C Rouget	C P Lemaire 9st 3lbs	5 - 1 1 3/4 length
11	Doctor Fremantle Sir Michael Stoute	R L Moore 9st 3lbs	8 - 1 5 lengths
12	Forgotten Voice J Noseda	R Hughes 9st 3lbs	66 - 1 5 lengths
13	Alpine Rose A De Royer Dupre	C Soumillon 9st 0lbs	16 - 1 9 lengths
14	Set Sail A P O'Brien	C O'Donoghue 8st 12lbs	200 - 1 1 1/4 length

FAME BUT NOT GLORY FOR IRISH DERBY WINNER

Fame And Glory, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, started favourite for the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, but could do no better than sixth as victory went to Twice Over.

Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory, who later chased home Sea The Stars in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, had his pace-setting stablemate Set Sail in sight during the early stages of the contest, but could not quicken in the final furlong.

Murtagh said: “He got a bit tired, but it’s been a long season. Maybe he might need a little more ease in the ground when racing over a mile and a quarter.

“A half a mile down I was niggling along and I thought maybe he would keep going. He did, but it was only at the one speed.”