Sergeant On The March To Ascot

Rod Millman has confirmed Sergeant Cecil will head to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot without the aid of another run.

The seven-year-old showed his well-being with a fine effort in the Yorkshire Cup last week in conditions that would not have suited and Millman says the outcome of the Ascot race will shape the rest of his season.

He does hold an engagement in the Group Two wbx.com World Bet Exchange Henry II Stakes at Sandown on May 29 but that has now been ruled out.

'He'll go straight to the Gold Cup. He won't run at Sandown,' said Millman.

'We're going to train him as a real good horse now and go for the biggest races.

'He absolutely hated the soft ground at York so to finish second was a great run, the winner just handled the conditions better.

'He's gone through it but it would have been a better race on fast ground. He just couldn't quicken on it, he was just staying on at one pace. I was really proud of him.

'It's exciting going to the Ascot Gold Cup with one of the favourites but he doesn't know he's the favourite. I'm just hoping for good ground.

'If he's good enough to win the Gold Cup we'll campaign him in all the staying races in this country but if we get beat we won't want to keep taking on whatever beats us.

'There are plenty of races in France that would suit but they are usually run on soft. We would only think about running him in those races if we weren't good enough for races like the Goodwood Cup or the Lonsdale Cup though.'

? PA Sport