Strength in depth at Warren Place

The resurgence at Warren Place continued last season with over 60 winners, including three at Group 1 level.

 

And Cecil believes the potential is there for another successful campaign with a balanced string, containing plenty of class.

 

He said: “I think, overall, the quality is up on last season. In fact, there is probably more potential than we have had for quite a few years.

 

“We will go into the season with around 120 horses. There is a good cross-section of older horses and we have around 55 two-year-olds which, on paper, pedigree-wise look exciting.

 

“Hopefully we can have an even better season than last, but we will need plenty of luck and for things to go right.

 

“I have a lot of ideas for some of the horses, programme-wise, but it is too early to make definite plans.

 

“I hope to get the ball rolling Craven week and get as many horses out as I can, so we can make some sort of a programme for the season.

 

“The weather has not helped through the winter but, with the indoor school, we have not really been stopped and we’ve done a great deal of conditioning work. I feel we are on course at this stage.”

 

Among Cecil’s flag-bearers will be Twice Over, who heads to Lingfield tomorrow for a racecourse gallop ahead of his Dubai World Cup bid on Mrach 27.

 

Cecil said: “Twice Over has wintered well and I feel he is a stronger and better horse this year.”

 

Other older horses at Warren Place include dual Group-1 winning filly Midday, Lord Shanakill, Father Time, Native Ruler, Manifest and Blizzard Blues.

 

There are host of interesting three-year-olds, notably in the fillies’ division.

 

Cecil said: “Of the fillies, maybe Aviate, Principal Role, Kithonia, Timepiece, Jacqueline Quest, Tomintoul Singer and Walk On Water are some that could make their mark.

 

“Some interesting three-year-old colts could be Bullet Train, Rodrigo De Torres, Protaras, Jetaway, Out Of Eden and Honest Strike.

 

“There are quite a number of two-year-olds that we like and I will just mention a few: an Empire Maker colt out of Valentine Band and a colt called Late Telegraph, who is by Montjeu.

 

“An earlier filly could be a Dansili ex (out of) Protectress and we have the full sister to Passage Of Time by Dansili out of Clepsydra. But it is early days.”