Twice Over is just Champion for Henry Cecil
After 133 years the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes left its final imprint on the turf at Newmarket, before it is transferred to Ascot for next season. And it was given a send-off worthy of the occasion.
Henry Cecil’s Twice Over was back to defend his crown and two furlongs out Tom Queally ranged upsides Debussy, who had led from the stalls and thus kept out of the way of the scrimmaging as several of the field got in each other’s way on what was not a very strong pace. Poet’s Voice, who had been pulling hard from the start, was already starting to struggle and Vision d’Etat was the only one who was able to muster a challenge to Twice Over as they reached the furlong pole, but it was never enough.
Twice Over may not have the brilliance of some of Cecil’s great horses but this was a third Group One win and he became the 11th horse to win the race twice, winning by one-and-three-quarter lengths with Vision d’Etat beating Debussy by three-quarters of a length for second.
The victory capped a splendid day for Cecil (a first Group One double in his illustrious career), Queally and Prince Khalid Abdullah, the owner of both Twice Over and Frankel, who had already won the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes. It was Queally’s 11th Group or Grade One winner in the last two years and the Irishman said: “It’s fantastic - it’s what it’s all about. It’s a day I’ll always remember, and I’m sure a lot of other people will too.
“Twice Over was marvellous today. They hacked along early and I didn’t want to be as handy as I was, but given the pace of the race I took closer order. He finished off his race well and felt as good as he has ever been. What more can I say? I’ll struggle to top this. My job’s easy, it’s Henry who gets them there in tip-top shape. All I have to do is steer them.”
Cecil was visibly moved by a victory that took him full circle from five seasons ago when the former champion trainer could muster just 12 winners and many – both privately and publically – advised that he should quit, to preserve a reputation that was in danger of being sullied by a slow decline. “I have to thank the prince so much,” Cecil said, his voice creaking under the emotions of a man who had looked over the brink and returned. “I think if it wasn’t for the prince I wouldn’t be here now.
“A few years ago I’d have been at Catterick today, but the prince has been a great supporter. I’ll go on as long as he is with me.”
Cecil has spent several years fighting stomach cancer and battling back from both divorce and the loss of his twin brother, of his David. The man himself may not have changed but he has shown a different side of his character to the seemingly effortless excellence of the 1980s and 90s. He has shown the will of a street fighter.
“The main thing with everything was illnesses and when everything goes wrong in your personal life, you’ve got to pick up the positive things is life and keep going. That’s what I tried to do,” he said. “I don’t like being an also ran. Apparently one or two trainers saw me on the heath and said ‘there’s Henry Cecil over there – he should have retired a long time ago’. Well I don’t like that sort of thing. I feel, mentally, really good. I wish my health was a bit better.”
Horses like Twice Over are as good a tonic going and he will be going on next year for another crack at Dubai World Cup next March, in which he finished an unlucky 10th this year, but will not be taking in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with the race being run on the dirt track at Churchill Downs this year.
“Now he’ll have a rest and we’ll have another go at the Dubai World Cup – he doesn’t want to run on the dirt in America. He’s my favourite horse and the prince loves him now. He’s a member of the family really and, as a stallion, he wouldn’t have been very popular and he’s won a lot of money. He’ll go one racing as long as he’s enjoying it.”
So will the trainer.
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