Henry Cecil

For other uses, see Henry Cecil (disambiguation).

Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (born 11 January 1943 Aberdeen Scotland) is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.

Cecil is the stepson of former champion trainer, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort for whom he worked as an assistant from 1964 to 1968. Cecil took out his licence in 1969 (first winner Celestial Cloud at Ripon – 17 May) and has since developed one of the most prolific racing stables in England. He is now something of a legend in the racing community and has been Champion Trainer 10 times. Overall he has won 34 classics at home and abroad. Among the many excellent jockeys to have ridden for Cecil, the most notable have been Steve Cauthen, Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer, Kieren Fallon and Pat Eddery. He is particularly renowned for his success with fillies, having won the Epsom Oaks eight times and the 1,000 Guineas six times. He is the Master trainer at Royal Ascot where his record of 70+ winners is unrivalled.

In 1995 he was dealt a blow when his relationship with Sheikh Mohammed broke down, with the owner withdrawing his horses from Cecil's stable.

After a few years in the relative doldrums he came back with his first classic when Light Shift won the Oaks in 2007. In February 2007, Cecil revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer for nine months.

In the 2010 season his Khalid Abdullah owned colt Frankel won the Royal Lodge(G2)and The Dewhurst Stakes(G1),before remaining unbeaten in his 3 year old career.Frankel won the Greenham Stakes(G3)before winning the 2000 Guineas(G1)by 6 lengths.He then went on to win further group 1's in the St.James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot,before winning the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth 2 Stakes.These victories confirmed him as Europe's best miler.Timeform and the International Federation of Horserace Authorities also rated him as the best horse in the world.

Cecil was knighted in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to horse racing.

Cecil received his Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth at a Buckingham Palace investiture on 15th November 2011.

Major wins

Great Britain

• 1,000 Guineas – (6) – One in a Million (1979), Fairy Footsteps (1981), Oh So Sharp (1985), Bosra Sham (1996), Sleepytime (1997), Wince (1999)
• 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976), Frankel (2011)
• Ascot Gold Cup – (5) – Le Moss (1979, 1980), Ardross (1981, 1982), Paean (1987)
• Champion Stakes – (4) – Indian Skimmer (1988), Bosra Sham (1996), Twice Over (2009, 2010)
• Coronation Stakes – (5) – Roussalka (1975), One in a Million (1979), Chalon (1982), Chimes of Freedom (1990), Kissing Cousin (1994)
• Derby – (4) – Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987), Commander in Chief (1993), Oath (1999)
• Dewhurst Stakes – (3) – Wollow (1975), Diesis (1982), Frankel (2010)
• Eclipse Stakes – (4) – Wolver Hollow (1969), Wollow (1976), Gunner B (1978), Twice Over (2010)
• Falmouth Stakes – (3) – Chalon (1982), Chimes of Freedom (1990), Timepiece (2011)
• Fillies' Mile – (6) – Formulate (1978), Oh So Sharp (1984), Diminuendo (1987), Tessla (1988), Bosra Sham (1995), Reams of Verse (1996)
• International Stakes – (3) – Wollow (1976), Royal Anthem (1999), Twice Over (2011)
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (3) – Reference Point (1987), Belmez (1990), King's Theatre (1994)
• Lockinge Stakes – (2) – Belmont Bay (1981), Prismatic (1985)
• Middle Park Stakes – (2) – Cajun (1981), Diesis (1982)
• Nassau Stakes – (8) – Roussalka (1975, 1976), Connaught Bridge (1979), Nom de Plume (1987), Lyphard's Delta (1993), Midday (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Oaks – (8) – Oh So Sharp (1985), Diminuendo (1988), Snow Bride (1989), Lady Carla (1996), Reams of Verse (1997), Ramruma (1999), Love Divine (2000), Light Shift (2007)
• Prince of Wales's Stakes – (5) – Lucky Wednesday (1977), Gunner B (1978), Perpendicular (1992), Placerville (1993), Bosra Sham (1997)
• Queen Anne Stakes – (4) – Belmont Bay (1981), Mr Flurocarbon (1982), Valiyar (1983), Trojan Fen (1984)
• Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (2) – Kris (1979), Frankel (2011)
• Racing Post Trophy – (10) – Approval (1969), Take Your Place (1975), Hello Gorgeous (1979), Dunbeath (1982), Lanfranco (1984), Reference Point (1986), Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990), Armiger (1992), King's Theatre (1993)
• St. James's Palace Stakes – (5) – Bolkonski (1975), Kris (1979), Shavian (1990), Dr Fong (1998), Frankel (2011)
• St. Leger – (4) – Light Cavalry (1980), Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987), Michelozzo (1989)
• Sun Chariot Stakes – (2) – Home on the Range (1981), Indian Skimmer (1988)
• Sussex Stakes – (6) – Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976), Kris (1979), Distant View (1994), Ali-Royal (1997), Frankel (2011)
• Yorkshire Oaks – (5) – Connaught Bridge (1979), Diminuendo (1988), Catchascatchcan (1998), Ramruma (1999), Midday (2010)

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Canada

• Canadian International Stakes – (1) – Royal Anthem (1998)

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France

• Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Passage of Time (2006)
• Grand Critérium – (1) – Tenby (1992)
• Grand Prix de Paris – (1) – Beat Hollow (2000)
• Prix de Diane – (2) – Indian Skimmer (1987), Rafha (1990)
• Prix de la Forêt – (1) – Salse (1988)
• Prix d'Ispahan – (1) – Indian Skimmer (1989)
• Prix du Jockey Club – (1) – Old Vic (1989)
• Prix Maurice de Gheest – (1) – Pursuit of Love (1992)
• Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – All at Sea (1992)
• Prix Royal-Oak – (2) – Ardross (1981), El Cuite (1986)
• Prix Saint-Alary – (1) – Indian Skimmer (1987)
• Prix Vermeille – (1) – Midday (2010)

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Ireland

• Irish 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Cloonagh (1973)
• Irish Champion Stakes – (1) – Indian Skimmer (1988)
• Irish Derby – (2) – Old Vic (1989), Commander in Chief (1993)
• Irish Oaks – (3) – Diminuendo (1988, dead heat), Alydaress (1989), Ramruma (1999)
• Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Chimes of Freedom (1989)
• Tattersalls Gold Cup – (1) – Shiva (1999)

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Italy

• Gran Premio d'Italia – (1) – El Cuite (1986)
• Premio Roma – (2) – Irvine (1972), Orban (1987)
• Premio Vittorio di Capua – (1) – Star Cutter (1986)

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United States

• Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (1) – Midday (2009)
• Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes – (1) – Yashmak (1997)

References

• Henry Cecil website
• Henry Cecil Trainer Profile