Charlie Hills

The 2022 G2 Blue Point Sprint hero Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is back to defend his title for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby over this minimum trip on grass. Worth $180,000, the Blue Point is the 6-year-old gelding's second run of the season after defeating Man Of Promise (Into Mischief) in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash on opening day of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival. "Lazuli is tried and tested over five furlongs at Meydan and this is his optimum trip," said Appleby. "He is in great form and, even...

Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) and Garrus (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), both trained by Charlie Hills, are in good form in advance of the Feb. 25 G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh later this month. The former, successful in the G2 Challenge S. in October and also tried in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, is aiming to improve on a fifth-place effort in the 2022 edition of this race. "Both horses are in great form and I couldn't be much happier with them," said Hills. "The plan has always been to start...

A total of 147 horses from 16 countries have been entered in the upcoming Dubai World Cup Carnival that begins at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. The nine-week Carnival is a preview for the Dubai World Cup night festivities on Mar. 25 next year. Among the horses that have accepted their Carnival engagements are an 11-strong team from American-based trainer Doug O'Neill, who saddled four winners from just 19 runners in 2022. Grade II scorer Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), third in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, is...

Allowed free rein on the lead in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Joel S., Shadwell's Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was able to turn that tactical edge to full advantage as he made all under a perfectly-crafted Jim Crowley ride. Sent off the 5-2 second favourite returning to the scene of his seven-furlong conditions success at last April's Craven meeting which saw him earn 'TDN Rising Star' status, the Charlie Hills-trained son of Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway)--who had subsequently been brought down to earth on several occasions including when a...

The inaugural £550,000 10-race Bahrain Turf Series begins in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Dec. 10, and several UK trainers are sending runners to compete. Consisting of 10 £50,000 handicaps, the series will last through Feb. 18, 2022. Based in Lambourn is trainer Jamie Osborne, who will ship in the pair of Brains (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Peerless (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). His daughter Saffie will help manage the horses with Osborne's assistant trainer Jimmy McCarthy. Jamie Osborne said, "Brains will run at the first meeting on Dec. 10 in...

The Jockey Club of Turkey has purchased this year's G2 Summer Mile victor Tilsit (First Defence) for stud duty. The announcement follows on the back of the news on Thursday that the Club had bought Battleground (War Front) and Epaulette (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) to join its roster. Tilsit is out of Multilingual (GB) (Dansili {GB}), an unraced half-sister to Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a daughter of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches scorer Zenda (GB) (Zamindar). It is also the family of prolific sire Oasis Dream (GB). Trained by...

Halfway through the six-week season, Team Swish leads the William Hill Racing League with 188 points. They are 10 points ahead of Team ThoroughBid after winning with The Attorney (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Menai Bridge (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) later on the Lingfield card both for Charlie Hills. Jockey Saffie Osborne is in front of all other riders with 132 points, one point better than Jack Mitchell, and she was aboard Menai Bridge. "We are smashing it tonight," Team Swish racing manager Rosie Tapner told Sky Sports Racing. "I'm going...

Champion sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), has been retired from racing, connections announced on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding raced in the Shadwell colours for the late Sheikh Hamdan and in 2021, his daughter, Sheikha Hissa. His final start was a seventh-place run aiming for a fifth-straight win in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday. Racing Manager Angus Gold said on behalf of Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd., "Following telephone conversations with HH Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan...

Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has exited his fourth-place finish in last week's G1 King's Stand S. in good form and is on course to attempt a fifth straight win in Goodwood's G2 King George S. on July 30. The 7-year-old gelding was making his first run since last summer when folding in the late stages after attending a hot pace in the King's Stand. "He's come out of the race really well actually, he's been cantering away this week and we're really pleased with him," said trainer Charlie Hills....

Trainer Charlie Hills has been named the Flat Racing Ambassador for William Hill. Hills, who is the trainer of MG1SW sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), will provide regular blogs on his runners, views, and opinions, kicking off with an exclusive update on Battaash ahead of his seasonal bow in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Hills's appointment will last through 2022. "William Hill Racing Ambassador, Charlie Hills, said, "The Flat season is really hotting up with the start of Royal Ascot and I'm looking forward...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-sister to a Classic winner. 1.55 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,800, 2yo, f, 6f 111yT ALLAYAALI (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Just the Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) who cost Shadwell €575,000 when the top-priced filly at the 2019...

Evergreen sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is in good form in advance of a title defense in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. Also a winner of the G2 King George S. last July and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York on Aug. 21, the 7-year-old Charlie Hills trainee is fully healed from an injury picked up over the winter. "His trainer will tell you he's definitely on course for Ascot," said Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold. "It's been well documented he was late going back...