Tag Archive for: Charlie Hills

Mutasaabeq pointing towards Lockinge following Newmarket strike

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Mutasaabeq began his season in the same fashion that he ended the last with a dominant display at Newmarket in the rearranged bet365 Mile.

Winner of the Joel Stakes when last seen, he was due to reappear at Sandown last week but when that race was lost to the weather, it was rescheduled for the Guineas meeting.

Trained by Charlie Hills, Mutasaabeq (4-1) was smartly away under Jim Crowley, with Irish Guineas winner Native Trail a little sluggish upon leaving the stalls.

That allowed Crowley to dictate matters and despite carrying a Group Two penalty for his Joel Stakes win, Mutasaabeq had matters under control from a long way out.

On meeting the rising ground Native Trail did start to make some inroads but was still beaten by three lengths.

The winner can still be backed at 14-1 for the Lockinge with Coral but Betfair were more impressed and cut him to 7-1.

Hills said: “He was supplemented for the Guineas as a three-year-old, so he’s always been a good horse.

“He’s got a good record here and I’m delighted with the way he’s put it to bed, especially given he had the penalty to carry as well today.

“The blinkers seem to have helped him and we’ll have to look at the Lockinge now, I suppose.

“He’s beautifully bred, being by Invincible Spirit out of Ghanaati, so that will have done him no harm today (winning a Group Two).

“It’s obviously a week shorter now than it would have been between this and the Lockinge, had it been run at Sandown, but I think he should be fine.”

Garrus picks up deserved victory in Abernant Stakes

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Garrus went one better than last year when holding off dual Stewards’ Cup winner Commanche Falls in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, in which odds-on favourite Creative Force was only third.

The Charlie Hills-trained grey may be a seven-year-old but once more proved that some sprinters improve with age and he was winning the third Group Three of his career.

Last seen competing in Saudi Arabia, he made his challenge on the far side of the track under Ryan Moore.

Only beaten a length by Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last season, the winner has some good form to his name but was expected to have plenty on his plate against Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force, who was down in grade.

However, William Buick was hard at work from some way out and it was Michael Dods’ Commanche Falls who made Garrus pull out all the stops.

Garrus, a 9-1 chance, had a head to spare at the line, while Creative Force stayed on only steadily into third, three-quarters of a length away.

The winner was given a 20-1 quote by Betfair for the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

Hills said: “He’s a wonderful horse and a pleasure to train really.

“He’s run some good races in some big races and he’s a good Group Three/Group Two horse. I don’t know if we’ll get sucked into making entries in those Group Ones as we’ve tried that, but we’ll see.

“It’s great to win a race like this. He was beaten a short head in it last year so it’s good for him to go one better.

“He’s in the Duke of York and he loves going to France so we’ll look at that as well. There are some nice races for him and he’s a horse any owner and trainer would love to have.”

Creative Force was only third
Creative Force was only third (Steven Paston/PA)

Appleby said of the beaten favourite: “They went steady early, it turned into a bit of a burn-up and unfortunately they got racing on the far side of him so he had nothing to race with.

“Take nothing away from the winner, who has been knocking on the door for something like this as well, but from our point of view William said they got racing away from him on the far side and he was left picking up on his own really.

“We’ll probably look towards the Duke of York. You know what it’s like with these sprinters, they run week in week out and results change, so if they’re fit and well, run them.”

Hills doubled up in the finale when Harry Magnus came from an uncompromising position to win the Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap.

Hills was full of praise for his jockey, William Buick, who brought the 5-1 shot through beautifully.

“That was a great ride. It was his first run so I thought he was just going to run a nice race but that was the most amazing ride I’ve seen for a while,” said Hills.

“He’s a nice horse. He’d only run once on turf before but was drawn one at Goodwood and jumped away from the others and was then in no man’s land.

“He’s been a bit green but he might get quicker, he’s not fully there yet.”

Lockinge on the radar for Mutasaabeq return

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Newbury’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes has been identified as a possible starting point for Mutasaabeq when he returns to the track this term.

Having won his first two starts in the manner of an above-average operator, Charlie Hills’ charge was handed some stiff assignments thereafter during his three-year-old season, including finishing a respectable seventh in the 2000 Guineas.

Winner of a Thirsk conditions event in his first outing at four, he continued to perform with consistency despite failing to add to his tally in his next four starts, before finishing the campaign on a real high when making all to land the Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September.

That took his career record to five wins in 12 starts, with connections deciding to pull stumps for the season and keep their powder dry ahead of a tilt at the May 20 Group One.

“He was really good in the Joel and speaking to Angus (Gold, racing manager for owner Shadwell) and Richard (Hills), the plan was to put him away from there and I think we will look at something like the Lockinge,” said Hills.

“He seems to have wintered really well and his temperament is excellent now, so especially with the dam Ghanaati, her progeny seem to improve with age.”

Jockey Jim Crowley riding Mutasaabeq on their way to winning at Newmarket
Jockey Jim Crowley riding Mutasaabeq on their way to winning at Newmarket (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

The son of Invincible Spirit was tried in first-time blinkers when scooping Group Two honours on the Rowley Mile, but Hills does not believe they are essential ahead of his charge’s return to action.

“He hasn’t got a bad bone in his body and it perhaps helped him concentrate a bit more,” he added.

“He’s run some good races without them as well, so we will see how he is training around the time, speak with Jim (Crowley, jockey) and go from there.”

Hills planning dual assault on Turf Sprint prize

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Charlie Hills’ stable stalwart Pogo will be joined by Garrus in the Group Three 1351 Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 25.

The seven-year-old entire Pogo was ultra-consistent last season, winning two Group Threes as well as the Group Two Challenge Stakes in October, booking his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup.

A seven-furlong specialist, he ran over a mile at Keeneland but will be back over his favourite trip in Saudi Arabia in a race in which he finished fifth 12 months ago.

“Both horses are in great form and I couldn’t be much happier with them,” said Hills. “The plan has always been to start both in the race in Saudi and I’m really looking forward to running them as they seem in really rude health.

“He (Pogo) was absolutely brilliant last year and kept a really solid level of form the whole way through the campaign.

“I’ve always believed he was a really good horse, as he’s always shown that at home and it’s great that he’s translated his work on the gallops to the track. He’s got a great constitution, takes his racing really well, and just didn’t stop improving.

“Some horses just take a bit longer to develop and he might be one of those. He’s a real trier and there’s no doubt that last season showed he’s improved as he’s got older.

“The track and trip should really play to his strengths out there. He loves fast ground and hopefully this year’s race will be run a bit more to suit. We’ll probably ride him a touch more patiently this time and with any luck he’ll be bang there.”

Garrus is heading out to Saudi Arabia with Pogo
Garrus is heading out to Saudi Arabia with Pogo (John Walton/PA)

Garrus was beaten a length into third by Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest but only ran once afterwards, when well beaten on Champions Day.

“The trip and track should really suit him,” Hills said. “We’ve been really pleased with his run-up to the race, and it looks a really good place to start him off this year.

“The prize money is so good out there and given it’s a race we think should play to his strengths, we’ve had it lined up for a while for him.”

Brilliant Battaash still has Breeders’ Cup option

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Charlie Hills appears increasingly keen on taking Battaash to America for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, should all go well in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.

The Lambourn trainer reports his crack sprinter to be in tip-top shape ahead of the five-furlong Group One on October 4, and is expecting a big run .

Battaash has been in tremendous form this season, winning all his three starts and hopes are high he can regain the Abbaye crown he lifted in 2017 and make up for defeats in the last two years.

“He’s only had three runs this year. He’s fresh, he’s well and is in great shape. I couldn’t be more pleased will how Battaash is training,” Hills told Sky Sports Racing.

“He looks very proud at what he is doing. His enthusiasm levels are great.

“As long as the ground stays reasonably good for France then that’s where we’ll go.”

Should he head to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup on November 7 he would have the chance to make amends for the dramatic defeat of his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Dayjur in 1990, when he jumped a shadow just yards from the post with victory in sight.

“There’s every chance. If he was really impressive in the Abbaye and he’s fit and well we’ll have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan and he’ll make the decision,” said Hills.

“He won at Royal Ascot first time out this year so why can’t he have his first run at Ascot again next year. There are plenty of routes to take.

“Battaash is the most important thing to us – his health and well-being. That is what we’ll train him for.”