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Rod Millman
Rod Millman
Brian Roderick Millman was born on May 25, 1957 and was raised in a family with a racing background. His father Brian was a permit holder in Devon where Rod first took part in pony and show jumping events as a boy.
Brian Roderick Millman was born on May 25, 1957 and was raised in a family with a racing background. His father Brian was a permit holder in Devon where Rod first took part in pony and show jumping events as a boy.
On leaving school Rod began his racing career as an apprentice with Reg Akehurst at Lambourn. He was apprenticed from 1972 to 1976 and rode five winners on the Flat, the first two of which were gained on Ballad Singer in apprentice races at Ascot on Saturday, June 22, 1974 (the ‘Heath Day’ after Royal Ascot) and at Kempton Park the following month. In August he rode the Akehurst-trained Phlox to beat champion jockey Willie Carson on Great St Bernard by half a length in the Romney Nursery at Folkestone.
On leaving school Rod began his racing career as an apprentice with Reg Akehurst at Lambourn. He was apprenticed from 1972 to 1976 and rode five winners on the Flat, the first two of which were gained on Ballad Singer in apprentice races at Ascot on Saturday, June 22, 1974 (the ‘Heath Day’ after Royal Ascot) and at Kempton Park the following month. In August he rode the Akehurst-trained Phlox to beat champion jockey Willie Carson on Great St Bernard by half a length in the Romney Nursery at Folkestone.
His last two Flat wins were both gained in 1974 in apprentice races, beginning with Ballad Singer at Wolverhampton on April 8, followed by Iver, trained by Monty Stevens, at Pontefract on October 1.
His last two Flat wins were both gained in 1974 in apprentice races, beginning with Ballad Singer at Wolverhampton on April 8, followed by Iver, trained by Monty Stevens, at Pontefract on October 1.
He briefly joined Monty Stephens (the biggest private trainer in the country at the time) but rising weight decreed that his future would lie over jumps. In 1977 he joined Kingsbridge-based trainer David Barron as his conditional jockey.
He briefly joined Monty Stephens (the biggest private trainer in the country at the time) but rising weight decreed that his future would lie over jumps. In 1977 he joined Kingsbridge-based trainer David Barron as his conditional jockey.
From there he spent time with Michael Chapman, Ron Atkins, Doug Marks, and Martin Pipe, where he stayed until 1981 and then went freelance, joining the Flat stable of Gerald Cottrell at Kentisbeare as a work rider. He hung up his boots on a winning note after riding his 60th winner on Snowy Pearl at Newton Abbot on May 5, 1989.
From there he spent time with Michael Chapman, Ron Atkins, Doug Marks, and Martin Pipe, where he stayed until 1981 and then went freelance, joining the Flat stable of Gerald Cottrell at Kentisbeare as a work rider. He hung up his boots on a winning note after riding his 60th winner on Snowy Pearl at Newton Abbot on May 5, 1989.
Rod took out a dual-purpose trainer’s licence on November 1, 1989 and did not have long to wait long for his first winner. His eighth runner, 20/1 shot Royal Dartmouth, landed the Haseley Handicap at Warwick. Royal Dartmouth won for him again two weeks later.
Rod took out a dual-purpose trainer’s licence on November 1, 1989 and did not have long to wait long for his first winner. His eighth runner, 20/1 shot Royal Dartmouth, landed the Haseley Handicap at Warwick. Royal Dartmouth won for him again two weeks later.
Rod married Louise in 1985 and their two sons James and Patrick grew up among horses, with James following in his father’ s footsteps by becoming a jockey before joining Racing TV as a presenter and pundit. Patrick became a successful amateur rider.
Rod married Louise in 1985 and their two sons James and Patrick grew up among horses, with James following in his father’ s footsteps by becoming a jockey before joining Racing TV as a presenter and pundit. Patrick became a successful amateur rider.
Whitbarrow gave Rod his first Pattern race success when winning the 2001 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. However, probably his best horse to date – certainly the most well-known – is Sergeant Cecil, who famously landed the Northumberland Plate-Ebor-Cesarewitch treble in 2005. In 2006 Sergeant Cecil won the Lonsdale Cup, Doncaster Cup and Prix du Cadran on successive starts and then finished third in the Prix Royal-Oak (French St Leger). He also won the 2007 Yorkshire Cup.
Whitbarrow gave Rod his first Pattern race success when winning the 2001 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. However, probably his best horse to date – certainly the most well-known – is Sergeant Cecil, who famously landed the Northumberland Plate-Ebor-Cesarewitch treble in 2005. In 2006 Sergeant Cecil won the Lonsdale Cup, Doncaster Cup and Prix du Cadran on successive starts and then finished third in the Prix Royal-Oak (French St Leger). He also won the 2007 Yorkshire Cup.
More recently, Master Carpenter won the listed Heron Stakes and the Group 3 Prix Daphnis in 2014.
More recently, Master Carpenter won the listed Heron Stakes and the Group 3 Prix Daphnis in 2014.
On July 19, 2025, he trained Anthelia to win the £134,091.50 to the winner Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury. It was the third time he had won that valuable two-year-old race.
On July 19, 2025, he trained Anthelia to win the £134,091.50 to the winner Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury. It was the third time he had won that valuable two-year-old race.
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