Cecil reflects on 2008

FIFTY TWO domestic winners and total prize money of close on £1.2million represent a pleasing return on another solid season for Warren Place.

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Cecil and hsi team mustered 52 winners in 2008

In comparative terms, trainer Henry Cecil recorded seven more successes than in 2007, while his string’s prize money was up considerably on recent campaigns – and that was without a Group 1 triumph.

 

Cecil assessed: “The season, I feel, has been a decent one – although there were too many seconds and thirds.

 

“Personally, I feel we should have won the Lockinge Stakes (with Phoenix Tower) at Newbury and if Phoenix had not wandered in the last furlong in the Eclipse, the race may have gone the other way.

 

“It was a great shame that he got a tendon injury before the Champion Stakes as he was improving the whole time and - the way Twice Over ran on ground too fast for him to be second - I feel he would have had a great chance of victory.

 

“We hope next season will be good although we will miss Phoenix Tower, who could have been a really good money earner.

 

“There are a few nice prospects among the colts and hopefully there are a number of fillies, who were weak and backward as two-year-olds, who will come on to be helpful to us in 2009. There are a number of ugly ducklings that could turn into swans!”

 

As it stands, Cecil may have one more chance of boosting his pleasing 2008 figures as Hallingdal Blue could contest a two-year-old fillies’ maiden at Lingfield on December 6.

 

Cecil said: “She is owned by the Sticky Wicket Syndicate who also own Born Tobouggie, who won three in 2008 for us.”