Henry Cecil

Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (11 January 1943 – 11 June 2013) was a British flat racing horse trainer. Cecil was very successful, becoming Champion Trainer ten times and training 25 domestic Classic winners. These comprised four winners of the Derby, eight winners of the Oaks, six winners of the 1,000 Guineas, three of the 2,000 Guineas and four winners of the St Leger Stakes. His 1000 Guineas and Oaks successes made him particularly renowned for his success with fillies. He was noted for his mastery at Royal Ascot, where he trained 75 winners.

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

Background and education Cecil was born on 11 January 1943 in a hospital near Aberdeen, ten minutes ahead of his twin brother David. His father, Lt. Hon. Henry Kerr Auchmuty Cecil, younger brother of the 3rd Lord Amherst of Hackney, had been killed in action with the Parachute Regiment in North Africa shortly before Cecil was born. His mother, Rohays Cecil, was the daughter of Major-General Sir James Burnett of Leys, 13th Baronet, owner of Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire.

When he was still a baby, Cecil's mother married Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, who was British flat racing Champion Trainer five times and who trained for, among others, George VI. After school, the twins went to work at the Earl of Derby's Woodland Stud in Newmarket, Suffolk, and at other studs overseas. They completed their education at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He had his first winner at Royal Ascot the following year when Parthenon won the Queen Alexandra Stakes. In his early years Cecil received the support of Lord Howard de Walden, a noted breeder and owner of racehorses.

The languid, dandyish Cecil, noted for his flair in clothing, went on to remarkable achievements. In 1973 he tasted his first Classic success in Ireland when Cloonagh won the Irish 1,000 Guineas and in 1975 he won his first English Classic with Bolkonski at the 2,000 Guineas. He won three 1,000 Guineas and a further 2,000 Guineas before winning his first Epsom Derby in 1985 with Slip Anchor. In 1976 he had taken over the running of Warren Place in Newmarket from Sir Noel Murless, the father of his first wife, and he turned the stables into what has been called "the most glamorous yard in Europe", setting it at "the pinnacle of British racing". In 1999 he won three of the five Classic races and finished second in the other two. His first wife, Julie, and his head lad, Paddy Rudkin, left and in 1995 Cecil's relationship with Sheikh Mohammed broke down, with the owner removing overnight the 40 horses he had in training at Cecil's stable. Sheikh Mohammed suggested at the time that he and Cecil had disagreed about the fitness of one of his thoroughbreds, Mark of Esteem, to run at Ascot—a disagreement which Cecil had made public. Cecil maintained that they were still "great friends" and had not fallen out. A number of Cecil's most notable horses had been owned by Sheikh Mohammed, including Oh So Sharp, Diminuendo, Indian Skimmer and Belmez.

Between July 2000 and October 2006, Cecil failed to train a winner in any Group One race. His second marriage publicly collapsed, his twin brother David died of cancer in 2000, his yard was losing money, and in 2006 it was revealed that he was himself undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. His stable was supported almost exclusively by the loyalty of Prince Khaled Abdulla.

Return to success and Frankel When Cecil's Light Shift won the Oaks in 2007, it marked a return to form. This victory was his 24th English Classic winner and his eighth victory in the race, seven years after his previous winner. The season before he had barely made it into the top 100 trainers in the country. "I might not be [competitive] on the outside", Cecil told The Independent. "But I am on the inside, definitely—underneath, very competitive. Always have been. We like winning, you know. We do like winning. It's what motivates you. Nobody likes failure. Your horses are running badly, or they're no good, you get jealous of everybody else. It's not quite so much fun, is it?" After his win in the Sussex Stakes Cecil himself described Frankel as "the best horse I've ever seen". Timeform and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities rated him the best horse in the world. In his four-year-old season Frankel won the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury before an eleven length victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, described in one national newspaper as "possibly the best single performance by any horse, on any track, since three Arabian stallions were imported into Britain to found the thoroughbred breed in the early years of the 18th century". Timeform raised their rating to 147, making Frankel the highest rated horse in their history. and then stepped up in distance to win by seven lengths the Juddmonte International Stakes at York over 10 furlongs. In October 2012 Frankel won the Champion Stakes at Ascot to finish his career unbeaten. "He's the best I've ever had, the best I've ever seen", Cecil told the BBC after the race, "I'd be very surprised if there's ever been anything better."

Author Jilly Cooper consulted Cecil as part of her research for her novel Mount!

Personal life In 1966, Cecil married Julie Murless, the daughter of trainer Sir Noel Murless. The couple had two children but divorced in 1990. Cecil had been conducting an affair with Natalie Payne, whom he married two years later. When they met Cecil was 46 and his future second wife was 22.

In 2008, Cecil married Jane McKeown. He was unable to be at Goodwood for Frankel's second victory in the Sussex Stakes in August 2012,

Death Cecil died of cancer on 11 June 2013 in hospital in Cambridge. He was 70. Racing broadcaster Derek Thompson called him "the greatest trainer of all time" while trainer Paul Nicholls referred to Cecil as "a true legend". Clare Balding, on Twitter, referred to Cecil as "one of the true greats and a gentleman. Frankel his crowning glory." Royal Ascot paid its respects to Cecil with a minute's silence before the opening race of the five-day meeting at 2.20 pm on 18 June 2013.

Major wins

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 – (5) – Indian Skimmer (1988), Bosra Sham (1996), Twice Over (2009, 2010), Frankel (2012) 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 – (4) – Wollow (1976), Royal Anthem (1999), Twice Over (2011) Frankel (2012) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (3) – Reference Point (1987), Belmez (1990), King's Theatre (1994) Lockinge Stakes – (4) – Kris (1980), Belmont Bay (1981), Prismatic (1985), Frankel (2012) 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 – (5) – Belmont Bay (1981), Mr Fluorocarbon (1982), Valiyar (1983), Trojan Fen (1984), Frankel (2012) 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 – (7) – Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976), Kris (1979), Distant View (1994), Ali-Royal (1997), Frankel (2011, 2012) Yorkshire Oaks – (5) – Connaught Bridge (1979), Diminuendo (1988), Catchascatchcan (1998), Ramruma (1999), Midday (2010)

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

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)

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) Matron Stakes – (1) – Chachamaidee (2012) Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Chimes of Freedom (1989) Tattersalls Gold Cup – (1) – Shiva (1999)

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

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