THE TIMEFORM VIEW
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SERGEANT CECIL 8 ch.g B. R. Millman 123
KING'S SIGNET (USA) JADIDH (TOUCHING WOOD (USA))
workmanlike gelding: very smart performer: had another good year in 2006, winning Lonsdale Cup at York (by ½ length from Franklins Gardens), Doncaster Cup on same course (by length from Alcazar) and Prix du Cadran at Longchamp (came from well off pace to beat Shamdala ¾ length): shaped well over inadequate trip on reappearance: better than ever when winning 10-runner Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup at York by ¾ length from Geordieland last time: stays 2½m: acts on firm and soft going (some promise on polytrack): ran poorly in cheekpieces once in 2003: sometimes races freely/carries head awkwardly: has good turn of foot, and usually held up: tough, and a credit to connections.
Mr Terry Cooper
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Perspective Comments
18/05/07 YORK
14 furlongs. Good 1 of 10 10/3f tfig 107 rat 123 Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL came off second best to Percussionist in this last year under more testing conditions, but if anything he looks an even better horse this time around, that suggested by his promising reappearance and confirmed through this fourth pattern win, which represents just about a career best given the 5-lb Group 1 penalty he was carrying; held up as usual, he didn't get into the race quite as easily as Geordieland but showed his customary turn of foot to assert, quickening ahead inside the last, then proving game as that rival rallied; he has 2 big-race entries, with another crack at the Gold Cup likely to prove more viable than a try at 12f in the Coronation Cup, the Cadran win having proved his stamina for 20f, though he'll be up against it if Yeats is at his best.
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21/04/07 NEWBURY
12 furlongs, 5 yards. Gd/Frm 4 of 9 8/1 tfig 23 rat 118 L. Dettori
SERGEANT CECIL ended up having another excellent campaign in 2006, completing a hat-trick in 'Cup' events, and started this season identically, if anything shaping better still for fourth this time as he had a big penalty as well as a wholly inadequate stamina test with the gallop as it was, yet he finished off strongly, promising to go on from this and make a bolder bid in the Yorkshire Cup (second last year); he's proven on all bar heavy ground.
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22/10/06 LONGCHAMP
15 furlongs, 110 yards. Good 3 of 10 11/4 tfig rat 117+ Ryan Moore
SERGEANT CECIL ran creditably given that this was barely enough of a test for him and that he was taking on rivals with a bit more speed (the pair who beat him both good enough to win pattern races at around 12f this year), held up in rear and staying on well after following them through; he's sure to win more good staying events next year.
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01/10/06 LONGCHAMP
20 furlongs. Gd/Frm 1 of 7 6/5f tfig rat 118+ L. Dettori
SERGEANT CECIL capped another marvellous campaign by registering his (and his trainer's) first Group 1 success, well ridden the way things panned out, held up before being produced close home, eased down as his rider celebrated; he's a most likeable gelding, admirable in every way, as well as a great credit to connections; hopefully, he'll be back for more of the same next term.
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08/09/06 YORK
18 furlongs. Gd/Sft 1 of 8 1/1f tfig rat 120 L. Dettori
SERGEANT CECIL has put right his pattern record lately, but improving his profile more than his form, as in defeat some efforts have been almost as good, including when second in this event last year, even though he was defying a 3-lb penalty here after the Lonsdale, albeit looking in control a fair way out, despite having gone more freely as the race went on with the gallop as it was, and he soon asserted over 1f out, while edging right across the runner-up briefly; the reported plan is now the Group 1 Prix du Cadran, but it's over 20f, which seemed to stretch him in the Gold Cup.
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22/08/06 YORK
15 furlongs, 198 yards. Gd/Sft 1 of 11 11/4f tfig rat 118+ L. Dettori
SERGEANT CECIL hasn't always had things go his way since second in the Yorkshire Cup and showed he's every bit as good as ever as he belatedly registered his first pattern success, once more showing his turn of foot as he came with a well-timed run to lead well inside the last; the outstanding Yeats apart, he's up with the best of the other stayers around at present, and will presumably bid to go one better than last year in the Doncaster Cup next, with that race's move to this track likely to suit him well (he's won twice and been second from 3 starts here).
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03/08/06 GOODWOOD
16 furlongs. Firm 4 of 15 10/1 tfig 99 rat 108+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL is best not judged too harshly on this, having met some trouble against the rail early in the straight, running on to snatch fourth, and although he's finding things tougher this year, we know he can make an impact at pattern level, second in the Yorkshire Cup on his reappearance.
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08/07/06 SANDOWN PARK
16 furlongs, 78 yards. Gd/Frm 2 of 5 5/6f tfig 49 rat 110 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL was only narrowly denied, responding gradually to reel in Winged d'Argent but finding the winner finishing that bit stronger, but on form it's a respectable run at best in face of what seemed a good opportunity for him dropped to this level, and perhaps his non-staying effort in the Gold Cup had taken a bit out of him.
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22/06/06 ASCOT
20 furlongs. Gd/Frm 5 of 12 5/1 tfig 91 rat 112 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL, in the end, left the impression he didn't quite stay, travelling strongly in the rear (possibly further back than was ideal) before getting messed about when looking for a run in the straight, one-paced in the latter stages.
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19/05/06 YORK
13 furlongs, 197 yards. Soft 2 of 7 9/2 tfig 54 rat 117+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL hasn't progressed any more as yet this season, at the same time confirming himself well up to pattern standard among the stayers after the way he developed last year, and it may be significant that connections think him better on less testing ground (only once raced on soft/heavy previously in his career), for a while here looking like coming all the way through, only for his challenge to falter late on, nonetheless clear of the rest; he's sure to be thereabouts in the Gold Cup, with his Cesarewitch win suggesting he has stamina enough for 20f.
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22/04/06 NEWBURY
12 furlongs, 5 yards. Good 4 of 11 9/1 tfig 87 rat 113+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL, just in need of his reappearance, made a smashing return over an inadequate trip and, with this under his belt, potentially, looks better than ever, staying on late without landing a blow, having understandably taken plenty of time to pick up from the rear; last season, he improved by leaps and bounds, winning Britain's 3 major staying handicaps as well as finishing second in the Doncaster Cup; he stays 18f and acts on firm and good to soft going; usually held up, he has a good turn of foot for a stayer and is genuine and reliable.
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15/10/05 NEWMARKET (ROWLEY)
18 furlongs. Gd/Sft 1 of 34 10/1 tfig 109 rat 118 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL has had a tremendous year, as well as a highly profitable one for connections, improving with almost every run since his reappearance back in April, and he showed form verging on very smart to defy an 8 lb higher mark than York and complete a unique treble of wins in big handicaps, having around 3 lengths to make up on King Revo when manoeuvred away from the rail to deliver his run but responding typically well to reel him in late on; a most tough and consistent performer, with a good turn of foot for a stayer, it will be pattern company for him from now on, with his mark already due to be 5 lb higher, and he's sure to make his mark in the leading Cup races next term–this form is around 4 lb better than what Cover Up achieved in winning the Jockey Club Cup later on the card.
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08/09/05 DONCASTER
18 furlongs. Good 2 of 7 6/1 tfig 95 rat 117+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL is enjoying an excellent season and ran well on his first outing in pattern company without having to improve much on the form he's shown in handicaps, staying on from the rear to lead 1f out but always a sitting duck to the winner; he'll look just fairly treated in the Cesarewitch off a mark of 104 but can be expected to give a good account all the same, this having proved his effectiveness at the trip.
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17/08/05 YORK
13 furlongs, 197 yards. Gd/Frm 1 of 20 11/1 tfig 92 rat 112+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL has done nothing but improve this season, and he became the first horse in nearly a century to complete the Nothumberland Plate/Ebor double, soon taking a good hold having been dropped out from a high draw, and showing a deal of speed from 3f to get up inside the final 1f, the ride well judged by Alan Munro, who knows the horse particularly well; he was already due to race off a 4 lb higher mark, and might not go up much more than that, but he looks ready for a step up to listed/minor pattern company anyway.
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26/07/05 GOODWOOD
14 furlongs. Gd/Sft 3 of 13 8/1 tfig 104 rat 109 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL is tough and consistent, as well as very useful nowadays, and he matched the form of his Northumberland Plate win off a 4 lb higher mark, finishing placed in this race for the second successive year, held up as usual back at 14f and keeping on well.
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25/06/05 NEWCASTLE
16 furlongs, 19 yards. Good 1 of 20 14/1 tfig 86 rat 104+ Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL was trying 2m for only a second time and found things working out well for him, with the emphasis hardly on stamina, as well as the run he got on the inside from 3f out, but he was certainly full value for the win, quickening as he weaved through late on, even looking to have a bit in hand by the line; he's a credit to connections, long since proven as tough/reliable, while his form has improved again this year.
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04/06/05 EPSOM DOWNS
12 furlongs, 10 yards. Good 3 of 20 12/1 tfig 100 rat 104 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL makes the frame more often than not and ran at least as well as at Newbury, though typically carrying his head awkwardly after he'd improved to look the main threat to the winner 2f out.
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14/05/05 NEWBURY
12 furlongs, 5 yards. Firm 2 of 10 8/1 tfig 94 rat 99 Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL, away from softish ground, which he doesn't seem to handle, showed he's as good as ever on his second start back, whilst shaping better than the bare result indicates, short of room against the rail as the race was taking shape and only getting clear approaching the last, running on to snatch second, all in all leaving the impression this sort of mark's not beyond him; tough and consistent, he's equally as effective at 1¾m as 1½m.
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20/04/05 EPSOM DOWNS
12 furlongs, 10 yards. Gd/Sft 12 of 13 8/1 tfig 63 rat Alan Munro
SERGEANT CECIL's best form is on good going or firmer and wasn't knocked about when it was clear he wouldn't get competitive; a tough and consistent handicapper, he won at Ascot last July before placed 4 more times at 1½m/1¾m, including second in the Mallard Stakes at Doncaster.
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26/09/04 ASCOT
12 furlongs. Gd/Frm 3 of 14 11/2 tfig 85 rat 97 Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL is most consistent and ran as well as he's ever done, deserving extra credit given that he didn't get the run of the race, typically held up and doing his best work late on when the 2 principals had gone beyond recall.
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10/09/04 DONCASTER
14 furlongs, 132 yards. Firm 2 of 15 5/1 tfig 74 rat 100+ Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL is a tough, reliable sort, better than ever currently, and produced another good effort off the same mark as at Haydock (was already due to go up 1 lb), looking unlucky not to at least get in a challenge at the favourite, still near last 3f out before asked to pick his way through on the inside amongst runners, finishing strongly once in the clear.
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04/09/04 HAYDOCK PARK
14 furlongs. Good 2 of 20 10/1 tfig 78 rat 100 Steve Drowne
SERGEANT CECIL showed himself still on the upgrade from a career-high mark, travelling strongly for a long way under a typically patient ride and following the winner through under 2f out; he's not had a busy season and should continue to figure prominently in the better handicaps this back-end.
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27/07/04 GOODWOOD
14 furlongs. Good 2 of 15 16/1 tfig 98 rat 99 Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL is in excellent heart right now and produced a good effort from a mark 3 lb higher than Ascot, staying on from off the pace to lead from over 1f out until inside the last; he's unlikely to get into the Ebor.
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09/07/04 ASCOT
12 furlongs. Good 1 of 11 16/1 tfig 86 rat 98+ Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL had ground conditions in his favour this time and confirmed himself every bit as good as ever in gaining his first success of the campaign; he did well to cope with the run of the race given he has form over further, held up before quickening past the entire field round the outside in the straight, leading over 1f out, just holding on; he's best on good ground or firmer.
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02/07/04 SANDOWN PARK
14 furlongs. Gd/Sft 5 of 7 4/1 tfig 59 rat 78 K. Fallon
SERGEANT CECIL is best forgiven this effort as his best form is on good ground or firmer, and he went too freely in a steadily-run race, though that's not unusual for him, fading from 2f out; he'd shown he retains all his ability at Goodwood.
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18/06/04 GOODWOOD
12 furlongs. Good 3 of 11 33/1 tfig 91 rat 93 Steve Drowne
SERGEANT CECIL showed he retains his ability on his return from a 2-month break, having been well held on his reappearance, moving smoothly to the front 3f out but easily brushed aside by the winner inside the last; barely effective at 2m, he acts on firm and good to soft ground, and probably on polytrack.
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21/04/04 EPSOM DOWNS
12 furlongs, 10 yards. Soft 20 of 20 20/1 tfig rat Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL lost his action on his final 4-y-o start and appeared to do the same here, virtually pulled up early in the straight.
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06/09/03 HAYDOCK PARK
14 furlongs. Good 17 of 19 10/1 tfig 14 rat Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL had been in really good form and is possibly best not judged too harshly on this effort as, having travelled well for a long way and come wide into the straight, he wasn't knocked about and eased some way out.
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09/08/03 ASCOT
12 furlongs. Gd/Frm 2 of 10 8/1 tfig 78 rat 94 K. Fallon
SERGEANT CECIL has progressed no end this season, having started the year off an official mark of 73, and he found further improvement dropped back in trip and with waiting tactics reapplied, held up towards the rear, squeezing through to chase the winner 1f out, forced to switch to the far rail inside the last; though far from sure to get a run at present, he'll be one of the better-treated runners in the Ebor if he does.
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12/07/03 ASCOT
16 furlongs, 45 yards. Firm 8 of 13 10/1 tfig 30 rat 89 Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL faced no easy task from a 5 lb higher mark than for his win earlier this month and ran his race under a change of tactics, albeit seeming barely to stay on his first attempt at this trip, dictating the pace until early in the straight and not given a hard time once weakening over 1f out.
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04/07/03 SANDOWN PARK
14 furlongs. Good 1 of 10 4/1jf tfig 55 rat 95 Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL has been in cracking form of late and gained his second course-and-distance success in his last 3 starts, the defeat having come by the improving Sindapour, travelling well in mid-field and quickening once a gap appeared towards the rail, leading approaching the final 1f.
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14/06/03 SANDOWN PARK
14 furlongs. Firm 2 of 12 7/1 tfig 72 rat 92 Jimmy Fortune
SERGEANT CECIL ran his best race in finding only a dark horse too good trying to follow up his course and distance win off a 3 lb higher mark, carrying his head awkwardly as he improved quite readily to challenge but running on strongly between horses.
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27/05/03 SANDOWN PARK
14 furlongs. Gd/Frm 1 of 10 12/1 tfig rat 89 Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL was beginning to look frustrating, having been placed on 6 of his previous 7 starts but, with the cheekpieces discarded, finally broke his maiden tag after a 6-week break, pulling hard behind the leaders while the pace was slow, shaken up to lead just inside the final 1f and not needing to be hard ridden to hold on.
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16/04/03 NEWMARKET (ROWLEY)
12 furlongs. Gd/Frm 10 of 11 4/1 (s) tfig 52 rat Darryll Holland
SERGEANT CECIL, tried in cheekpieces, might have run a bit freely for his own good, soon swallowed up when the race began in earnest.
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07/04/03 WINDSOR
11 furlongs, 135 yards. Good 2 of 14 9/2jf tfig 76 rat 82 Darryll Holland
SERGEANT CECIL improved in the second half of last season, and at least matched that form on his return, only just failing to break his maiden having raced closer to the pace than usual; a consistent sort, he stays 14f and has yet to encounter extremes of going.
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28/10/02 WINDSOR
11 furlongs, 135 yards. Gd/Sft 2 of 17 4/1f tfig 50 rat 82 W. Woods
SERGEANT CECIL continues to hold his form well, never far away and keeping on, going down only to an unexposed sort.
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16/10/02 BATH
11 furlongs, 144 yards. Good 2 of 18 11/2f tfig 80 rat 82 Richard Hughes
SERGEANT CECIL ran even better than before off a still higher mark and is likely to continue to give a good account; having tracked the leaders, he led and quickened 2f out but wandered and was headed in the final 1f; he showed no shortage of pace here and is at least as effective at 12f as 14f.
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02/10/02 SALISBURY
14 furlongs, 15 yards. Good 2 of 14 6/1 tfig 76 rat 79+ W. Woods
SERGEANT CECIL ran as well as he has stepped back up in trip, going well as he came to the stand side but unable to quicken late on; though still a maiden, he doesn't seem to lack for resolution.
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18/09/02 BEVERLEY
12 furlongs, 16 yards. Good 3 of 14 7/1 tfig 56 rat 70 W. Woods
SERGEANT CECIL ran creditably, despite again giving the impression that a return to at least 14f would be very much in his favour, again sticking to his task well.
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26/08/02 CHEPSTOW
10 furlongs, 36 yards. Good 2 of 16 10/1 tfig 73 rat 72 Pat Eddery
SERGEANT CECIL ran well after a 2-month break, despite having shaped as if a step up (rather than this step back) in trip would benefit, no chance with the winner but staying on well to claim second close home.
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15/06/02 SANDOWN PARK
14 furlongs. Gd/Sft 6 of 8 33/1 tfig 19 rat 67+ Francis Ferris
SERGEANT CECIL confirmed he's a fair maiden at best and likely to stay at least 2m, going rather in snatches but plugging on when short of room (cost him nearly a length) late on.
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16/05/02 SALISBURY
12 furlongs. Gd/Frm 9 of 19 33/1 tfig 58 rat 61 Martin Dwyer
SERGEANT CECIL raced close to the strong pace, though equally he faced a stiff task on his handicap debut.
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05/05/02 SALISBURY
12 furlongs. Good 10 of 17 66/1 tfig 53 rat 67 S. Righton
SERGEANT CECIL performed as he had on his previous 3 starts, namely showing at least modest form without ever threatening.
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27/03/02 LINGFIELD PARK
10 furlongs. Std 9 of 14 25/1 tfig 61 rat 62 S. Righton
SERGEANT CECIL was never dangerous on his third outing following a 6-month absence; he showed fair form at 2 yrs, shaping as though he would stay 12f+ and is now qualified for handicaps.
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01/10/01 BATH
10 furlongs, 46 yards. Good 7 of 14 100/1 tfig 39 rat 69 S. Righton
SERGEANT CECIL is clearly not without a little ability, though he merely plugged on late in the day over this longer trip.
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24/09/01 KEMPTON PARK
8 furlongs. Gd/Frm 8 of 11 100/1 tfig 60 rat 61 S. Righton
SERGEANT CECIL (by King's Signet out of a winning staying hurdler) showed a modest level of ability, chasing the winner until halfway having been reluctant at the stalls; his pedigree is a fairly equal mixture of speed and stamina.
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