Sergeant makes history

History was made on Champions Day at Newmarket when Sergeant Cecil completed an unprecedented staying handicap hat-trick with a resounding victory in the totesport Cesarewitch.

The six-year-old’s success in the £130,000 (€190,579) stamina test came on the back of wins in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate and Ebor.

Only three horses have ever gone for the treble and all have come unstuck in the Newmarket leg.

To underline the achievements of Sergeant Cecil this season, the last bid was by Pillio in 1911. Before that only Victor Emmanuel, in 1882, and Underhand, in 1859, arrived at the Cesarewitch capable of landing all three races in the same campaign.

But Rod Millman’s 10-1 shot was well up to the task. He galloped into the history books with a powerful late surge under Alan Munro to catch King Revo (20-1) near the finish and land the winner’s purse by three-quarters of a length.

Inchnadamph (50-1) was two lengths back in third, with Vinando (25-1) fourth.

“It’s wonderful to achieve the treble,” said a breathless Millman, who has had the gelding since his three-year-old days. “But you can’t do it without a good horse, great staff and a good jockey.

“We have actually aimed this horse at the three main races and he’s had nice long rests between races.

“I wasn’t aware of the treble until he pulled up after winning the Ebor and I thought it would be wonderful to have a crack at it. No-one has ever done it so I thought ‘let’s have a try’ and Terry Cooper (owner) was full of enthusiasm.”

Reflecting on the race, the Cullompton trainer said: “I could see him all the way and he was always travelling well but you need a confident jockey on him and Alan has been amazing. He’s ridden this horse so well.

“The horse comes late because he doesn’t want to be in front too long and he was carrying a lot of weight.

“He’ll be a Cup horse next year.”

The victory crowned a marvellous campaign for Munro, who returned to Britain this season after 10 years in the Far East.

He said: “It’s a great piece of history and I’m just pleased to be part of it.

“It’s just terrific. I came out of the wilderness and Rod picked me up, so I owe him a lot really.

“To bring this horse back for his target races in peak condition is the sign of a good trainer.

“It’s just brilliant but he is an amazing horse.

“Prior to the race I tried to work it out but there were too many runners. I had a good draw and it all went well for me.

“He’s just a great ride, he defends his position and he makes up ground when you want him to.”

Patrick Haslam, trainer of the runner-up, was represented by his wife Anne, who said: “Philip (Robinson) gave him a brilliant ride. I don’t know what Patrick will want to do now, as I’m not sure there is anything left on the Flat for him this season.

“He has schooled over fences at home and is going to be a hell of a chaser, hopefully.”

Tim FitzGerald, trainer of Inchnadamph, said: “I was worried about the low draw and he didn’t get the best of runs, but in a big field you can’t expect to be lucky. He has run really well and I’d like to think he will be back for this race next year.”

Afrad, the heavily-backed 3-1 favourite, ran no sort of race and finished 28th of the 34 runners.

For the third time in the six years of Victor Chandler’s backing of the VC Bet Challenge Stakes, the race was won by a 20-1 chance when Le Vie Dei Colori took the Group Two contest in style.

Last Resort and Munir were the other outsiders to oblige and Luca Cumani’s five-year-old left the sponsors cheering once again with an impressive display in a first-time visor.

Gerald Mosse brought the entire with a sweeping run down the outside to lead inside the final furlong before scooting clear to defeat Sleeping Indian by two and a half lengths, with another length back to Arakan.

Le Vie Dei Colori was bouncing back to form in the headgear after some below-par runs this season.

“We know the horse has got ability but he somehow lost his way this year. I don’t know why but I couldn’t quite get the tune out of him I wanted. Then a fortnight ago I worked him in a visor and since then it has perked his ideas up,” explained Cumani.

“The headgear seemed to make him think he was good again. He did a wonderful piece of work in the visor and since then he’s been bouncing.

“I came into the race thinking he could do something good but I didn’t think he’d win like that.

“Mosse gave him a wonderful ride and he picked up really well for him.

“He’s a good horse, a really good horse. Last year he was third in the Sussex and third in the Foret.

“We might look at Hong Kong if we get an invitation. Then I think there is a plan for him to go to stud next year.”

Peterborough trainer Pam Sly enjoyed her biggest success when Speciosa held on by a neck from Violette after making all in the Group Two Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes.

After greeting the 20-1 winner, Mrs Sly said: “Hopefully she will train on and I would have to think about putting her in the Guineas but I have no idea what it would cost.

“She was only beaten a length and a short head at Doncaster and Michael said we should run her here as she’s got plenty of speed and the drop back to seven furlongs would not be a problem.”