18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon

Leopardstown's tribute to Cecil

Thu 13th Jun 2013, 10:13

Tom Queally rides Tickled PinkTom Queally rides Tickled Pink
© Photo Healy Racing

Leopardstown racing and operations manager Nessa Joyce said plans are in place for Sir Henry Cecil to be remembered this evening.

Joyce said: "We'll certainly be having a minute's silence for Sir Henry and the whole thing will be handled very tastefully.

"It's extremely tragic news, but I think, as other people have said, Henry would want the show to go on.

"Mr Cecil did not have too many runners here, but I think everyone in Ireland appreciated what a brilliant trainer and man he was.

"The outpouring of emotion from people shows he was held in such high regard and having a minute's silence will give people the opportunity to pay their respects." Tickled Pink runs for Lady Cecil in Leopardstown's Group Three Ballyogan Stakes.

Tickled Pink's Irish owner Trevor Stewart admits it will be an "emotional day".

The four-year-old won the Group Three Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on her penultimate start and is a daughter of Stewart's best racehorse to date, Cassandra Go, who won the King's Stand for trainer Geoff Wragg in 2001.

Stewart said: "I've only had horses with Sir Henry for the last three years, but I feel so proud to have been associated with him for that time.

"He was an absolute genius when it came to training racehorses and he was just a charming and very special man.

"I've had horses with many different trainers, but nobody is like Henry.

"When this filly won her Group Three in April, Henry wasn't all that well, but he came over and whispered to me, 'I told you she was a Group filly as a two-year-old and a Guineas filly as a three-year-old'.

"Before she went to Newmarket, I wanted to go for a Listed race somewhere, but Henry pleaded with me for 20 minutes to let her run in the Abernant.

"Eventually I gave in and it came off, which was great.

"After she ran at York last time, Henry was quite keen to go straight to Royal Ascot with her, but I put my foot down and said she should come to Ireland and then if that went well, we'd run her in the July Cup.

"I overruled him really, so hopefully I'm proved right, or he wouldn't be too happy with me!

"I didn't know Henry all that well, but it's still devastating news and it's going to be an emotional day, especially if the filly can win."