Charlie Hills

Shadwell's MG1SW Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the 2019 edition of the G1 Nunthorpe S., is doing well ahead of a title defense in the Aug. 21 York contest. Trainer Charlie Hills is upbeat ahead of the big day, especially as the bay sports a two-for-two record in 2020. He opened his 6-year-old account with a win in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 16, and then added his fourth G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on July 31. "He had a nice...

His odds were 2-7 and that proved generous as early as halfway as Shadwell's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) pulled off a historic fourth victory in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. on Friday. Recording his fastest time (55.62) in the race in the process, the G1 Nunthorpe S., G1 King's Stand S. and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye hero was shadowed by last year's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) but was comfortably on top at the line to score by 2 1/4 lengths, with Ornate...

Khalid Abdullah's Tilsit (First Defence) followed up a June 4 debut second at Newcastle with a breakthrough score--by a whopping 19 lengths--back there June 27 and survived a lengthy stewards' enquiry to be confirmed the winner of Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood. The 10-1 chance was steadied to race in third behind a modest tempo set by My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and remained there through halfway in this turf bow. Quickening to launch his challenge at the quarter-mile marker, he edged in front entering the final eighth,...

Magical Memory (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) may have time called on his career after re-aggravating an old injury. The 8-year-old gelding was preparing to return from a two-year layoff at last month's Guineas meeting when he came up slightly lame just days before. A scan before the end of the month will determine his future. "He was working so well with the likes of Khaadem, but then he was found to be slightly lame in the same leg he injured previously--three days before declaration," said Sam Hoskins, manager of the Kennet...

Charlie Hills-trained Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a MGSW for Sheikh Hamdan, has returned to Hills's Faringdon Place in preparation for contesting Royal Ascot in June, Shadwell. "He's come back very well," Hills said. "He was a little more wintry than last year, but the last couple weeks, his coat has really been coming through. He's physically done well and I'm happy with him. He's had one swinging canter and we're just trying to keep him ticking over. He's not a big horse, so he doesn't take as much training...

Juddmonte Farms' Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) holds the disctinction of being the first winner at the Dubai International Racing Carnival for trainer Charlie Hills after cruising to victory in the Listed Dubai Dash on the turf at Meydan. Held up early on in the five-furlong sprint, the 5-year-old eased into contention in the second half to run home two lengths clear of Sheikh Hamdan's Waady (Ire) (Approve {Ire}), with a close call for third when Shadwell's other runner Rusumaat (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) narrowly gained the verdict over the Michal Appleby-trained...

G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is set to step up in trip after disappointing in the G1 Sussex S. last week. He holds entries in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 21 and the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 14. Trainer Charlie Hills admitted he does not know what to attribute the colt's lacklustre Sussex effort to. "He had a canter [on Tuesday] and moved really nicely," Hills said. "We are just scratching our heads. Whether the...

Friday of the Qatar Goodwood festival can mean only one thing. Shadwell's flying machine Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) bids to follow where Tuesday's star Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) led by landing a third edition of one of the meeting's major prizes, this time the G2 King George Qatar S. over the furiously fast five furlongs he adores. In the form of his life this term, he took the G2 Temple S. at Haydock on May 25 before meeting his nemesis Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1...