Charles Hills

Sunday's €380,000 G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest shares this weekend's European top billing with Dusseldorf's 166th G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and, while the field for that Classic was finalised on Wednesday, declarations for the Deauville highlight were not confirmed until Friday morning. There were no defectors from the overnight set of 16 nominees as all main characters--G1 Prix Jean Prat victor Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire} and dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel...

Swooping to record back-to-back successes in Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Fitri Hay's Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) proved himself a true horses-for-courses sprinter under Oisin Murphy. Let go at 80-1 getting the full Jamie Spencer treatment 12 months ago, the Charlie Hills-trained 8-year-old who was 14-1 this time was always travelling like the winner in behind and when finally given the command swamped Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) inside the final furlong for a half-length win. Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles...

Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane...

Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Bella Estrella {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up a debut success at Newbury in June with a second in last month's G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood and continued on the upgrade with a decisive victory in Saturday's G2 Betfred Champagne S. at Doncaster. Racing fourth of five behind a modest pace through halfway, the 3-1 chance powered forward inside the final quarter mile to gain a narrow advantage passing the furlong pole and was driven out to easily assert...

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})--White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some...

Shadwell's 5-year-old entire Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) was rewarded for his consistency in pattern-race company with a course-and-distance win in September's G2 Joel S. and, penalised three pounds for that success, made a winning seasonal return in Friday's rescheduled G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket. Racing on the front end after a slick getaway, the 4-1 chance poached a decisive advantage approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on powerfully under continued urging inside the final furlong to easily account for MG1SW G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Native...

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT. GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}--Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien. The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, "Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295", according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born...

Charles Hills dominated Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. with the now-retired Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) from 2017 through 2020 and has found another son of Dark Angel to claim glory in the five-furlong charge after G3 Palace House S. victor Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) blew his rivals away and provided the trainer with a record-breaking fifth renewal on Friday. Fitri Hay's 6-year-old gelding had already tasted glory at this meeting, having annexed 2019's Stewards' Cup H. as a 3-year-old, and burst clear...

There was very little on form between the main protagonists for Saturday's G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, but one who did have some play in his profile was Tilsit (First Defence) and the Juddmonte homebred duly made that class edge tell to prevail for a career-best success. Last seen finishing a head second to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over an extra furlong and 55 yards at ParisLongchamp May 30, the 4-1 favourite followed Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) wide of the other runners throughout...

Twice cruelly denied by his nemesis Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the last two runnings of the G1 King's Stand S., Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was on Tuesday the undisputed ruler of Royal Ascot's five-furlong strip of verdant racing ground to provide the opener's undisputed highlight. Out of the first four for only the second time in his career when last seen trailing in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, Shadwell's 6-year-old may have had a slight question mark over his head as he exited the stalls but...