Cicero’s Gift has been declared to run in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown on Friday. Charlie Hills’ charge was one of two horses to cause monumental upsets on British Champions Day at Ascot in October.
Sent off 100/1 for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, up against the likes of Field Of Gold, Rosallion and Docklands, Cicero’s Gift produced too powerful a punch for his rivals. Jason Watson guided him to a length-and-a-quarter success over The Lion In Winter.
That victory saw him break through at Group level, let alone in the highest company. His backers will point to his Listed victory at Sandown the month before as proof he was rounding into form. Regardless, his Ascot win demonstrated an entirely new level of form.
Now a six-year-old, the son of Muhaarar will have a target on his back for this campaign. After a season full of shocks, Hills will be hoping he can confirm his place at the top table was no fluke this term. The bet365 Mile will provide the first point to prove on Friday.
Stellar rivals make for tough opening task
Five horses have been declared against Cicero’s Gift on Friday. The task is made harder by the Group 1 penalty he must bear against quality opposition.
He and Godolphin’s Meydan Group 1 hero Opera Ballo will concede weight to all. The unbeaten Zeus Olympios carries a Group 2 penalty, but trainer Karl Burke has spoken in reverent terms about his chances this year.
Field Of Gold will also return in this contest. The grey disappointed in the latter half of last year, but had looked extraordinary when cantering to glory in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He carries no penalty for his first start at four.
Group 1 City Of York Stakes winner Never So Brave escapes a penalty trying this 1m trip again, while it says something that Dancing Gemini, last year’s bet3656 Mile winner, is last of those mentioned among a stellar sextet.
Such is the task facing Cicero’s Gift, the Champions Day winner is the outsider of the six. Hills has faith that he is improving just as quickly as any of his rivals though.
“Everything looks in place,” Hills said to the Press Association, via Racing TV. “They are saying the ground is good, they always water well for this meeting,” .
“I’d like to get a run into him, I’ve been really happy with everything he’s doing at home but I just want to get him on to the track really.
“Since he’s been gelded he’s got better and better and been really consistent, it was only when he didn’t stay over 10 furlongs in the Brigadier Gerard that he hasn’t won or gone close.”
The bet365 Mile is scheduled for 3pm on Friday 24 April.