Morpheus gave Lady Jane Cecil an emotional first success since she took over the licence from her husband Sir Henry Cecil, who died on Tuesday, when landing an emphatic victory at Nottingham.
Following a long battle with stomach cancer, Cecil passed away following a brilliant training career. The British Horseracing Authority granted Lady Cecil a temporary licence and the first five horses to run under her name were sent out at various venues in Britain and Ireland on Thursday.
While the first two were out of luck at Newbury, Morpheus was a warm order as the 4-5 favourite for Nottingham's ABG Law Classic Maiden. Poignantly a half-brother to Frankel - Cecil's greatest ever horse - Morpheus had run a career-best on his third start at Goodwood last time and was always travelling well on this occasion in the hands of James Doyle, sporting the famous silks of Khalid Abdullah and a black armband.
The market leader appeared slightly awkward when coming under pressure, but pulled nicely clear in the final furlong to register a four-and-a-half-length victory over Elsiniaar.
Lady Jane said: "He did it so well. He has taken time to get his act together, but that was very pleasing, wasn't it. And James gave him a great ride."
Some 10 minutes after Morpheus had recorded his success, stablemate Songbird powered to an impressive victory in the Royal Ascot Money Back At BetVictor.com Fillies' Handicap at Yarmouth under Ian Mongan.
Mongan said: "Life goes on and Henry would want that. I'm sure he's looking down and smiling today. The whole racing community will have been watching Lady Cecil's runners today and I was a little nervous as I wanted to win so badly for the whole team and everyone.
Mongan rode an undoudted career-highlight winner when the Cecil-trained Twice Over won the Juddmonte International at York in 2011 and the rider added: "He gave me chances like no other trainer would. If I wasn't riding for Henry, I wouldn't be riding. I have him to thank for that. He always made jokes, he'd always slap you on the head and things and it was fun. Fingers crossed we get a winner at (Royal) Ascot for him. It would be fantastic."
Tom Queally was at Leopardstown to ride the filly Tickled Pink in the Ballyogan Stakes but the pair finished out of the places in the Group Three event. Quickly to the front from her draw in stall one, it looked like Queally's mount might pull off a famous success but she was challenged on either side side by Boston Rocker and winner Fiesolana in the straight, eventually fading.
The first two horses to run out of Warren Place on the day were Phaenomena and Rajaratna at Newbury, but neither were able to make an impact in their respective divisions of the maiden.
