Super Cecil Goes For Gold

Another crack at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot is on the agenda for Sergeant Cecil after he improved his impeccable record at York in the Emirates Airlines Yorkshire Cup.

Rod Millman´s star stayer has now won four of his five starts at the track, with his only defeat in this Group Two last year, when he went down by three lengths to Percussionist.

Twelves months on, the 100-30 favourite came with his usual late rattle from the rear of the field under Jimmy Fortune to lead inside the distance and overhaul Geordieland for a three-quarter-length success.

Millman´s gelding has developed a cult following with his style of racing, having graduated through the ranks in 2005 to become the leading British stayer.

He is now set to clash with Aidan O´Brien´s Yeats in the Gold Cup next month.

Coral and William Hill cut him to 6-1 from 8s to improve on his fifth-place finish in the race last year, while totesport go 11-2 ? with Yeats their 11-8 market leader.

Millman said: 'To be honest the lads at home say he is better than ever, and he is fitter than he has ever been at this time of year.

'It might seem a strange thing to say but at the age of eight he seems to have improved again.

'This race takes some winning with a Group One penalty, but Cecil is a good horse and he keeps proving it again and again.

'This is his best track too, and it really suits him.

'I am very lucky to have a horse like him. He is just the same as he always has been ? but he seems to be going up the gallops even faster these days!

'He´ll go to the Ascot Gold Cup, where he would have a good chance, and then he´ll come back here for the Lonsdale and then perhaps the Irish St Leger.

'The Cadran is also a possible later in the year, and I wouldn´t rule going him abroad for one of the invitation races.

'He is effective from a mile and a half upwards, and we have a few options before Royal Ascot including the Coronation Cup.'

Trainer Jamie Osborne was satisfied with last year´s Ebor fourth Geordieland, who performed much better than on his two previous runs this spring.

Osborne said: 'He´s just come right the last couple of weeks and we were very hopeful coming here.

'He has a lot of class and is a very good horse. He´s run a very sound race and we´ll go for the Ascot Gold Cup.'

Mark Perrett, husband and assistant to Bulwark´s trainer Amanda Perrett, said: 'We´re thrilled and he´s run a real good race.

'I don´t know where we´ll go next but I suspect that this mile and six furlongs may be his trip.'

(C) PA Sport