Charles Hills Racehorse Trainer

JANUARY

The first runner of the year was a winner when West Leake Melody obliged at Southwell on 16th January. He followed it up with a second at the same course on the 25th of the month. The only other runner in January was the filly Blaise Chorus (pictured), who was to later run second in the Cheshire Oaks and provide Charlie with his first winner. She started her career at Lingfield and was runner up under Robert Winston.

FEBRUARY

We only had one runner during the month and it was a winner when Moonlight Rhapsody (pictured) won at Lingfield on the 14th.

MARCH

March began with a group of horses going out to Deauville and we struck gold when our first runner, Mystic Dream, won a maiden. The other horses we sent out there during the month all performed well with only Red Lago of the five runners not to bringing back any money. It's likely we will send more horses there next season, although the competiton may be stronger as people realise that it's worth the journey to run for €15,000 in a maiden in France rather than less than £3,000 for a maiden here. At home Cool Macavity won at the first time of asking at Lingfield under our new apprentice Matthew Lawson, who was having his first ride for us. Matthew would continue to ride plenty of horses for us during the year with probably his biggest win coming on West Leake Diman in a conditions race at Newmarket. Protractor and Failasoof also broke their maidens during March.

We sent Red Jazz and Redwood (pictured together) to run on Dubai World Cup night where they both performed with credit. Red Jazz was a brave third in the Godolphin Mile, despite not enjoying the Tapeta surface, while Redwood ran his best ever race to finish second to Rewilding in the Sheema Classic.

APRIL

The Lincoln Meeting passed without a winner for Barry which is most unusual, with Canna's second the best result. Fadhaa broke his maiden in impressive style at Wolverhamton and was to show some smart form later in the season. There were two winners at the Craven Meeting with Commended taking the opening maiden and Ransom Note showing everyone how much he had improved over the winter when winning the Earl Of Sefton (Group 3). At this meeting Madany was an unlucky second in a valuable sales race, while Rerouted ran well to finish a close second on the European Free Handicap (Listed). We had two winners at Epsom's opening meeting where Slumber (pictured below being led by Rerouted) made an impressive seasonal debut in The Investec Derby Trial, and Barney Rebel broke his maiden. Ektibaas won his maiden at Beverley and Dream Achieved was an impressive winner at Kempton. There was a gutsy win for Hail Promenader at Pontefract and Robert Winston forced the quirky Lamasaas home at Thirsk. Captain Bertie made a very promising seasonal debut when finishing second in The Esher Cup, while Critical Moment started his season off with a third in a listed race at Ascot.

MAY

There weren't many runners at the Guineas meeting with Sharaayeen's close second in a valuable handicap the best performance. Then it was onto Chester where we endured a frustrating meeting. We had three seconds on the first day courtesy of Blaise Chorus in the Cheshire Oaks (Listed), Tastahil in the Chester Cup and Fadhaa in a handicap. It turns out Fadhaa's runs wasn't too bad at all as he was just touched off by Brown Panther. Other performances of note where Slumber who ran a good race to finish third in the Chester Vase (Group 3) to Derby second and Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and King George winner Nathaniel, and Maqaraat who was second in the Dee Stakes (Group 3). Angels Will Fall (pictured) made her debut on the ninth of the month with an impressive display at Windsor. That propelled her to the head of the Queen Mary betting but unfortuately a minor setback just before the race ruled her out. She was to make amends later in the season. The same evening Fine Threads started off her season with a win. On the tenth three of Sheikh Hamdan's horses obliged at Warwick - Ektibaas, Fityaan and Sajwah. Sajwah was to go down in the record books as Charlie's first listed winner later in the season. Tasheyaat was the next winner in May when she battled to her maiden success at Salisbury. Early Applause won at Ripon, while Mezmaar hacked up at Haydock to make him one of the favourites for the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

JUNE

Rougette's easy win at Goodwood was our first win of the month. She has a lovely pedigree and this win was very important to her future as a broodmare. Power Punch was a winner at Ripon and Barney Rebel sprung a nice surprise in a Sandown handicap. After the last two very successful Royal Ascot's this years meeting was a bit of a disappointment with horses like Mezmaar and Sajwah not showing their true ability. Two horses that did run well were Slumber in The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) where he was third after a troubled passage, and Self Centred (the chesnut pictured below) who finished third in The Chesham (Listed) and gained some valuable black type. Maqaraat and West Leake Diman both obliged at Haydock's evening meeting on the 18th of the month. While Whistle On By gained his first win of the season at Windsor. West Leake Hare and Above Standard were both winners later in the month, along with the tough little Red Art.

JULY

The tough and consistent Letsgoroundagain broke his maiden when he was awarded a race at Haydock on the first of the month, while Cool Macavity won the following day at Sandown under Matthew Lawson. On the first day of Newmarket's July meeting Redwood repeated his runner up place in the Princess Of Wales Stakes (Group 2). Sajwah ran a good race to finish a close fifth in The Cherry Hinton (Group 2). White Frost started what was to be a winning run of three consecutive races when he won his maiden at Thirsk. Saturday 23th July was a good one of the yard with Angels Will Fall winning the Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) at Ascot, West Leake Diman winning a conditions race at Newmarket and Ransom Note finishing second in the Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2). The following day the lovely filly Raasekha broke her maiden and we're very pleased she is staying in training. The opening day of Goodwood saw Red Jazz run a brave race to finish second in the Lennox Stakes (Group 2). He came back from Goodwood with an injury but we're pleased to report he is back in exercise now and we are looking forward to next season with him. Llanarmon Lad ran a fantastic race to finish second on his debut, just getting collared on the line. Amber Silk and West Leake Hare were other two year olds to run good races and finish second at Goodwood. The final couple of days of the month yielded four winners headed by Prime Defender (pictured) who scored at one of his favoured tracks, Doncaster. Fityaan won at Newmarket, while Sea Odyssey broken his maiden at Lingfield. Balty Boys won his maiden impressively at Newbury, and would end the season one of the highest rated two year olds in the yard.

AUGUST

August was a momentous month as Barry announced his decision to retire after York's Ebor Meeting. He has had a glittering career spanning over 3,000 winners and numerous classic and Group 1 successes both here and abroad. However before he handed the license to Charlie there were a few more winners to come. Sea Odyssey followed up his win at Lingfield with a quick reappearence and a win at Brighton, while Port Hollow made all to win at Kempton on the same day. The game Lucky Legs got her well deserved maiden win at Windsor, and White Frost made it two wins from two runs when he scored at Newmarket. Gray Pearl made a very pleasing debut at Newbury and was to go onto better things later in the season. Although York's Ebor meeting passed without a winner Na Zdorovie and One Lucky Lady made sure Barry signed off in style on his last day. Na Zdorovie was Barry's last runner and a winner at his beloved Chester, while One Lucky Lady (pictured), his last ever runner, scored at Bath. Charlie has some very big shoes to step into.

The 22nd August is a day that Charlie won't forget. His first day as a trainer was marked by a winner with his first runner, Blaise Chorus at Kempton. He then went onto Windsor that evening where the highly rated Cockney Dancer scored on her debut. This filly was not seen at her best in subsequent runs, but she was growing and weak and will be a different proposition this coming season. Later that week White Frost achieved his hatrick with another win at Newmarket.

SEPTEMBER

The first of the month saw another breakthrough for Charlie when he saddled his first listed winner, Sajwah at Salisbury. It was a real shame that we lost the filly when she was injured in the Cheveley Park because she improved hugely during the second half of the season. Perennial showed us what we hoped he was capable of when he won a hot maiden at Doncaster's St Leger Meeting. We've loved this half brother to Redwood since he set foot in the yard and have high hopes for him. Letsgoroundagain put up a great performance in the sales race to finish third and earn plently of prize money for his owners. Sharaayeen and Shropshire also ran good races at this meeting. Hazel Lavery was the next winner of the month when she won a conditions race well at Newbury. She's definitely a filly to keep an eye out for in the coming season. Mezmaar won at Leicester, and put to bed his bad run at Royal Ascot. Lawn Jamil was a good winner of his second start at Redcar, while the tough Mrs Dee Bee won at Wolverhampton. Ransom Note (pictured) became Charlie's first group winner when he took the Joel Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket. He seems to love the track, having won two group races there this year. Hopefully there will be more success to come with him as he stays in training. Self Centred got a very much deserved and important win when she hacked up at Chester. Angels Will Fall came back to form in the Cheveley Park (Group 1) where she finished a close third. She is very fast and we are not convinced she will stay much beyond six furlongs next year, so she may well be kept to sprinting. Two year old performances of note this month came from Ellaal and Model Pupil, both of whom made very encouraging debuts.  

OCTOBER

Upcountry was the first winner this month when he sluced up at Leicester. It was an impressive performance from a three year old who had only been in training since July. Lucky Legs got her head in front again at Windsor. There weren't many horses in the yard who tried as hard as she did. Letsgoroundagain just kept going and getting better as the season went on and at Pontefract he scored in a listed race. He gave his owners an awful lot of fun during the year, and won plenty of money. He has since been sold to Hong Kong where we wish him well. Later in the month Ellaal and Brimstone Hill were winners, and Slumber ploughed a lone furrow up the stands rail at Newmarket to win the Jane Seymour Stakes (Listed) under an inspired ride from Michael. Future Champions Day was pretty successful for us without actually winning anything. Balty Boys raced alone in the Middle Park (Group 1) and was a close fourth. Michael is convinced if he'd had company he would have been closer. West Leake Diman also ran well in the same race and wasn't beaten far in seventh. Perennial (pictured nearside below) was an unlucky second in the Autumn Stakes (Group 3). He was quite a long way out of his ground and then showed his inexperience. However the race will have made a man of him and we are really looking forward to seeing him on the racecourse in the spring. Gray Pearl ran a blinder, in what could be one of the best two year old fillies races of the year, when she was third in the Rockfel Stakes (Group 2). She was the least experienced in the field and like Perennial will benefit for the experience. If all goes according to plan we will aim her at a Guineas trial next spring.  Other two year olds who ran well during October were Forgotten Hero, Safarjal, Razorbill, Moodhill and Qannaas.

NOVEMBER

As the season came to a conclusion we had two winners Mount Crystal and Winged Valkyrie. We also had a couple of runners in America. Island Paradise and Slumber made the trip to Hollywood Park and were both unlucky not to finish closer in their races. Both horses were a long way back in races which were won by front runners. Slumber in particular was finishing like a train in The Hollywood Derby (Grade 1). He is staying in America to join Juddmonte's team over there and looks to be a ready made Grade 1 winner. 

DECEMBER

Redwood and Ransom Note made the trip to Hong Kong for the International Invitation races. Unfortunately things didn't really go according to plan with both horses finishing unplaced, but it was a great trip and the horses have come back safe and sound ready for action next year. We have three horses being schooled to run over hurdles this winter - Early Applause, Red Soles and Cool Macavity. They have all taken to jumping well and can hopefully win races. It's also nice to have a bit of action over the winter months.

Next year is going to be a very important one for Charlie as he starts his first full season as a trainer. The owners have been incredibly supportive and we feel that we have a great team of older horses, plus an exciting group of two year olds to go to war with next season. Fingers crossed!