Sergeant takes command

Devon trainer Rod Millman and jockey Alan Munro have built up a highly-successful partnership this season and they plundered their biggest prize to date when Sergeant Cecil ran out a convincing winner of the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle today.

Munro, best known for his victory on Generous in the 1991 Derby, subsequently left Britain to pursue a career in the Far East.

He returned this year via Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand and a self-imposed five-year break from the sport, and capped his comeback with victory in today’s £180,000 ‘Pitmen’s Derby’.

However, it was not all plain sailing on a horse who was not guaranteed to get the stiff two miles, as the 14-1 chance had plenty to do leaving the back straight.

Once in line for home Munro went for a run up the inside before switching his mount over a furlong out, where he asked the six-year-old for maximum effort.

The response was immediate and finding a useful turn of foot, Sergeant Cecil squeezed though a gap to lead inside the final furlong and net the £104,400 winner’s purse by a length and a half from the front-running Tungsten Strike (16-1), with Far Pavilions (6-1) one and a quarter back in third.

Astrocharm (20-1) was fourth.

Munro, 38, said: “I had a rough trip early on and was further back than I wanted to be, but I got a great run up the rail. That’s just fate and good luck, though.

“The horse has great acceleration. He gets two miles and he showed the same acceleration over two miles that he shows over a mile and a half.”

Reflecting on his season so far, he added: “I’m delighted I came back. I’ve enjoyed it from day one.

“Things have been going very well and it’s terrific to win a high-profile race. I’m delighted for the whole team at home.

“Rod is having his best season and he’s a very good race planner, too.”

Millman, speaking from his Cullompton base, was enjoying his biggest win, and he said: “There are only so many races you can go for with a horse like this and I was just praying there wasn’t too much rain.

“He was stopped three or four times early in the race and I thought his chance had gone, but then he got a good run up the straight.

“This was the plan and we’ll see what the handicapper does now.

“It’s good for Alan Munro and I’m lucky to have such a good jockey riding for me.”

Amanda Perrett, trainer of Tungsten Strike, said: “He ran a great race.”

Far Pavilions’ trainer Alan Swinbank said: “He has run a good race and I am not disappointed. He is a marvellous horse and he had every chance.”

Asked if the Ebor would now be the target, he added: “We will have to see what the boss (owner David Abell) says, but as long as the horse comes back in one piece.”

Robert Winston, who rode the third, added: “He had every chance, but he was just very tired inside the final furlong. It’s possible he didn’t quite stay, but it could possibly be the ground has gone against him.”

Mark Tompkins, trainer of Astrocharm, said: “She has run a fantastic race. If she had got a run along the rails she might have been a bit closer. She stayed the two miles and it opens more options for us.”

Swift Sailor was backed from 11-2 into 7-2 favourite but could finish only 11th of the 20 runners.

Trainer Mark Johnston’s wife Deirdre said: “He had the perfect position but he just didn’t pick up.”