CECIL FINDS PASSAGE TO A FIRST GROUP ONE IN SIX
YEARS.
Henry Cecil turned back the clock yesterday with a first Group 1 win in more than six years as Passage of Time showed Classic pretensions by winning the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. With this victory, Cecil, such a dominent force in British Flat Racing for so long helped long-term patron Khalid Abdullah all but secure the owner’s title in France, ahead of the Aga Khan.
Not since Beat Hollow won the Grand Prix de Paris in 2000 has Cecil welcomed a winner at the highest level, as foreign visitors dominated the finish of the 1m2f contest. Aidan O’Brien trained Soldier Of Fortune was three-quarters of a length behind in second, in front of Mark Johnston’s Empire Day.
Cecil ends 2006 with a 100% record in France this season, as three months ago he saddled the Niarchos family’s Multidimensional to win the Gorup 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, for the trainer’s first Group-race vicotry of any kind since 2002.
Greeting Passage of Time in the winner’s enclosure, Cecil said “I wouldn’t have sent her for the Criterium if I thought she didn’t have a leading chance, and I’m delighted to have helped Prince Khalid become leading owner in France.
“She’s very good and will continue to improve, I never considered her to be a 1000 Guineas filly and she’ll probably start next year in the Musidora.”
“After that Prince Khalid will decide whether she goes for the Oaks at Epsom or the Prix de Diane at Chantilly (which Cecil won with Indian Skimmer). She’ll tell us when she comes to herself.”
Rider Richard Hughes said: “I did have to be patient, but I was never really worried as she has a lot of gears. We knew she stayed well, and she showed an outstanding turn of foot and proved she can go on any ground.
“After she won at Newmarket, I told Mr Cecil we could have continued until Newmarket High Street. Her real asset is stamina.”
Passage of Time was given a 10-1 Oaks quote (from 25) by Ladborkes with Blue Square going 16-1 (from 25).
Hughes was happy to settle in Mid-division but had to wait for a gap before asking his mount for her final effort. When he did, she produced an outstanding turn of foot to pass Soldier Of Fortune inside the final furlong.
Date:
13 November 2006