Midday ends Cecil's Breeders' Cup wait.
MIDDAY STRIKES GOLD FOR HENRY CECIL
H R A Cecil Profile
Midday Profile
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Henry Cecil filled in a notable gap on his extensive CV by saddling the first Breeders' Cup winner of his career with Midday in the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Friday night.
Despite numerous Classic successes and countless Group Ones triumphs, Cecil had not won at America's biggest meeting.
All that changed, however, within a handful of spellbinding strides.
Given a confident ride by Tom Queally, having his first ever experience of the event, the daughter of Oasis Dream scooted clear inside the home straight.
The 15-8 favourite had a length in hand over the fast-finishing Pure Clan, with last year's winner Forever Together third.
Cecil said: "The main thing was to have a nice position and when she hit the straight she could go for home.
"But after my first runner (Father Time), who I really fancied (in the Marathon), didn't run very well I was just wondering what was going to happen.
"The Breeders' Cup has always been her main target. I hoped to have her right for the Opera on Arc day but that race is a Group One and she needed the run slightly.
"I have always dreaded the Breeders' Cup slightly as I haven't had great success over the years, but to win one lives up to my expectation and thrill.
"When you do win one you start to think you can win again.
"I thought that the European contingent was strong and that the English three-year-old fillies are stronger that the US.
"She likes fast ground and doesn't like it soft so we took a chance when she ran at Goodwood.
"It is lovely to win for (owner) Prince Khalid Abdullah as he is a friend and supporter of mine. He stuck with me through the bad times and it is great to repay him.
"He loves the Breeders' Cup so I am delighted to win a race here for him."
Queally said: "This crowns my year. Even if she had run well but not won it would have topped a great season, but this is the icing on the cake.
"She is a peculiar filly as she has loads of class and a great turn of foot but she does hit flat spots.
"She came off the bridle but that didn't worry me as I knew she would respond when I asked her.
"I knew there wasn't a lot of pace in the race and I didn't want to give too much ground to the leaders.
"Henry told me to keep it simple and I knew she had heart, attitude and the ability to dig deep when it mattered."
Cecil continued: "I did go through a bad patch in every way for four or five years.
"I didn't have the horses and my health wasn't so good.
"I am not back to where I was and I don't want to be really. I don't want to train 150 horses any more but am happy to peak on the big occasions.
"I feel things are on the up. They have been for the last couple of years and I hope they can continue."
Khalid Abdullah confirmed Midday will stay in training as a four-year-old.
He said: "She will go back to Europe next year and she will compete, she will continue."
Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, added: "Prince Khalid has always liked the Breeders' Cup and has the races in mind when planning strategies.
"After the Irish Oaks, the Breeders' Cup looked the most sensible and worthwhile objective for her.
"I hope we will then be able to come back and defend her crown in Churchill Downs."
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