Improving Cecil Bound For Doncaster

Sergeant Cecil booked a ticket to Pattern-race company after swooping to complete a rare double with victory in the totesport Ebor at York.

The 11-1 chance became the first horse for almost a century to land this prestigious event having already taken the other big staying handicap in the North, the Northumberland Plate.

And he is now set for a trip to the St Leger meeting next month, where he will tackle the Doncaster Cup.

It was a remarkable feat, both for trainer Rod Millman - better known for his handling of early-maturing two-year-olds - and for jockey Alan Munro, enjoying his first season back in Britain after a lengthy hiatus in the Far East.

Millman, who looks after a team of about 40 near Cullompton, could barely conceal his delight afterwards.

'Absolutely fantastic, this horse has been a real star for us,' he beamed. 'The Ebor is the one we´ve really wanted to go for.

'Last year he had a cough and couldn´t go, and the year before that he wasn´t high enough in the handicap.

'We might be a long way away from York but we know all about this race and we know what a prestigious event it is, so it´s a real thrill.

'This might have been his 33rd race but he´s still improving, we´ve given him time to mature and haven´t over-raced him - although he´s run a lot, he´s always had gaps in between. He´s not had a hard life and he´s repaying us for that now.

'I feel very proud of him today. He´s a bit of a character - if the gallop isn´t done just the way he likes then he won´t do anything. But he has stacks of ability and it is all falling into place with him this season.

'He dropped back a bit in the early stages as Alan tried to settle him, but I could see him cutting through the pack on the turn and I knew he was going to run a big race.'

Sergeant Cecil´s transition from ´nearly horse´ into big-race winner might have something to do with the abilities of his rider.

Munro has enjoyed something of a topsy-turvy season, the undoubted low point coming when he received a seven-day suspension for his part in a weighing-room incident with fellow pilot Richard Quinn.

But considering the obvious rustiness which he encountered earlier in the year when attempting to resume his career after a lengthy spell out of the saddle, Munro has collected a most respectable tally of 38 victories for the season.

'I guess I was apprehensive about this year and it has been steady at times, but things are just getting better and better now,' he said.

'Coming back to Britain, it could have gone either way. But it feels good because it´s home. It feels comfortable. You don´t realise how much you miss your home until you come back.

'People have been very good to me since I came back and I appreciate that.'

Munro´s mount came from off the pace to win by a length from the strong-finishing Carte Diamond (20-1), with Grampian (16-1) a neck away in third and the 9-2 favourite Balkan Knight fourth.

The predictably fierce early pace was set by Jagger and Odiham, who led the field towards the near side in the long straight.

There were plenty in with chances in the final three furlongs and at different stages in the home straight both Grampian and Balkan Knight looked set to land the spoils.

However, it was Munro and Sergeant Cecil who made relentless progress from the rear to lead in the last 100 yards and claim the honours.

Connections of Carte Diamond were thrilled to finish second and the prize-money collected by the runner-up might just have persuaded owner Ashley Carr to stump up the cash to enter the colt in the Melbourne Cup - a race for which Coral issued a quote of 25-1 about his chances.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Carte Diamond, said: 'That was fantastic, at Cheltenham he boiled over so we gave him a holiday and brought him back for this.

'He´s had five months off, he´s come back in a competitive race and he´s missed the break, so he´s run a fantastic race.

'He´s in the Melbourne Cup and we´ll give that some consideration. I´ll talk to the owners but he would have to go out at the end of next month.

'His main target is the Tote Gold Trophy in February. He´s rated 125 so he´s well handicapped over hurdles.'

? PA Sport