Charlie Hills

Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is nine, but clearly hasn't lost a step. The same can be said for his 54-year-old jockey Frankie Dettori. He, too, is still getting it done. But can the geriatric duo pull off a win in the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint? As well as Khaadem has been running this year, it's entirely possible. "That's two old boys together," trainer Charlie Hills said of the horse-jockey combination. Dettori will be the second oldest jockey in this year's Breeders' Cup behind only 60-year-old Mike Smith...

Adding another bizarre twist to the 2025 Qipco British Champions Day, the 100-1 shot Cicero's Gift (Muhaarar) swooped under Jason Watson to conquer for the sport's revered Hills family in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Not really in the vicinity of the best of these on form, Rosehill Racing's gelding outstayed The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) in the final furlong to register the second of the card's major upsets by 1 1/4 lengths. Alakazi (Footstepsinthesand) was a neck away in third as the big favourites all failed...

As a 9-year-old, Khaadem has won his share of some top flight races in England for Mrs. Fitriani Hay over the course of his illustrious career, which has netted the gelding nearly $2.5-million in earnings. On Saturday in the Woodford Stakes, the venerable Thoroughbred once again got his picture taken with a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Keeneland. Trained by Charlie Hills, Khaadem highlights include during his 6-year-old season scores in the G3 Betfair Palace House Stakes at Newmarket that April and in the G2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood...

Cable Bay, the sire of this year's G1 July Cup winner No Half Measures, has died at the age of 14. "With profound sadness, we inform you that Cable Bay, the sire of the 2025 July Cup, Gr1 winner No Half Measures, as well as several individual black-type winners and performers, passed away last night," read a statement posted to social media by the Northern Lights Stallion Syndicate, which brought the son of Invincible Spirit to India to continue his stallion career in 2023. "In the three years with us,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features the first foal out of a high-class racemare. 15.18 Leicester, Debutantes, £15,000, 2yo, 7fT ELARAK (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is the first foal out of Shadwell's triple group 3 winner Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who is also a half-sister to this month's G2 Champagne Stakes runner-up Monumental...

Depending on the era one first became immersed in racing, there are certain sets of colours that have particular resonance. For many, the brown and white hoops, white cap, carried by the late Gerry Oldham's horses, many of them homebred by his Citadel Stud, will be favourites. Over the years they have been worn by jockeys aboard such special horses as the brilliant stayer Sagaro (Ire) - who has the rare honour of having a race named after him at Ascot - and 2,000 Guineas victor Zino (GB), trained like...

Billy Loughnane is set to be in Group 1 action at Newmarket this weekend when he bids for the first top-level success of his burgeoning career in the My Pension Expert July Cup. Loughnane was among the winners on Saturday's Coral-Eclipse card at Sandown, notably landing the Coral Challenge aboard Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for Charlie Hills, who is set to reward the young rider with the mount on one of his two potential July Cup runners, the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned pair of Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})...

Multiple group winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at The National Stud in Newmarket next year. The dual G2 Joel S. hero's fee will be £6,500. "We are delighted to have secured Mutasaabeq to join our stallion roster for the 2024 season," said The National Stud CEO Anna Kerr. "He was a very consistent horse on the track and showed a great attitude in his races. It is rare that a prospect with such an outstanding pedigree becomes...

Practically unbeatable on Newmarket's Rowley Mile, Shadwell's Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) made all to annexe back-to-back renewals of the G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel S. on Friday and gain a fifth success from six visits to his favourite venue. Always happy on the front end with the bias firmly for front-runners, the Charlie Hills-trained homebred son of Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) had to work late to deny two others who have likewise been around the block but remain just shy of the very top. They are the Freemason Lodge...

Jockey Dane O'Neill has been taken to hospital for further assessment and Tuesday's first race at Wolverhampton was voided after the Charlie Hills-trained Eagle Eyed Tom (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) stumbled at the break and appeared to clip heels, tossing the rider to the course. O'Neill was attended to on the track and there was an 11-minute delay as O'Neill was taken off on a stretcher. "Dane sustained a fall after leaving the stalls in the first race, which was then voided," Fergus Cameron, clerk of the course at Wolverhampton, said....

Charlie Hills confirms that G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. shocker Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will be supplemented to Saturday's G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Whether Royal Ascot partner Jamie Spencer will be available will depend on whether the rider can successfully appeal a careless riding ban from his winning effort aboard Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Pretty Polly S. The massive 80-1 upset came on the heels of a rough trip in the listed British E.B.F. 40th Anniversary Cathedral S. where the Fitri Hay-owned...

Shock Royal Ascot hero Khaadem (Ire) is likely to be supplemented for the Pertemps Network July Cup S. at Newmarket later this month providing conditions remain dry in the lead up to the race. Charlie Hills' seven-year-old has always threatened to be a high-class speedster and finally landed a long-awaited Group One victory when running out an 80-1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting. The son of Dark Angel (Ire) is reported to have bounced out of his Ascot run well and connections now...