Last Tuesday the legendary English horse trainer Sir Henry Cecil passed away. Over a period of 43 years he trained 25 classic winners, 75 Royal Ascot winners and was Champion Trainer 10 times.
He also sent Group 1 winners to the USA, Canada, Italy, Ireland and France.
Greatness is defined over a long period of time, Bart Cummings is testament to this, however what makes Sir Henry Cecil story so compelling is he temporally lost this status only to regain it.
From 2001-2006 he hadn’t saddled a Group 1 winner.
This was severe fall from grace considering his record before this.
His lowest point professionally came in 2005 when he had just 12 winners.
There were many factors involved that contributed to this barren period, for many it can be first traced back to 1995 when Sheik Mohammed ended their relationship by taking 40 horses away from the yard.
Sheik Mohammed claimed that Cecil had not informed him of an injury to one of his horses.
While Sir Henry continued to have Group 1 winners, such patronage leaving his yard would have its impact.
In 2000 he lost his twin brother to cancer, an infliction that he himself was diagnosed with in 2005.
After this there was talk of retirement, but a desire to remain in the game was too strong and Group 1 winners came back to him in Midday and Twice Over.
One particular owner, Prince Khaled Abdulla remained loyal to Cecil and still believed in his ability.
It was this partnership that would provide a pinnacle for both men’s involvement in thoroughbred racing when the imperious Frankel came along.
What great personal fulfilment Sir Henry’s involvement with this horse must have brought him.
During this period in the wilderness he must have questioned whether he still had it to be a top class trainer.
Over the last year his frailty was quite visible and there was a sense that his association with Frankel kept him going, after his victory in last year’s International Stakes he claimed that it made him feel ’20 years better’.
His biographer, Brough Scott believed that Sir Henry Cecil ‘didn’t just live for his work rather that he was only alive because of it’.
He was a remarkable trainer of thoroughbreds.
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