Sporting Life reports Barry Hills to hand over the reins to son Charlie after the Ebor meeting. Always used to back his at Chester in my younger days and remember being on his Blue Stag at 150/1 in the Derby (finished 3rd I think behind Quest For Fame). Article also describes his sons Michael and Richard as "2 of the most well-respected jockeys in the weighing room" What are your memories of Barrington's career?
Hardly a surprise as in effect Charlie Hills has been the real ‘power behind the throne’ for a while now and on a day-to-day basis wouldn’t think that much will change by Barrington ‘officially’ calling it a day later this month. The same situation exists with the old Hannon’s and it can surely on be a matter of time until Richard senior makes the same call. Barrington will I’m sure go down as a much respected trainer but given his propensity to get rather irate (especially in adversity) not one that the racing public ever really took to their hearts. Unlike the likes of Sir Henry, Sir Michael and, of course, Mr Henderson. In fact Barrington’s greatest honour was when Mr Henderson had his ‘spot of bother’ due to those ‘unfortunate circumstances’ as a result of being persecuted by the racing authorities a couple of summers back. Several horses were transferred to Barrington’s yard (including Carricaola) during this period and who could ask for a better tribute than being personally recommended by the greatest trainer of them all.
Cyc, the racing authorities over here have always been intensely jealous of true genius and their persecution in recent years of Mr Henderson and ‘King’ Kieren confirms this. It is amazing how they go out of their way to go after certain individuals but turn a blind eye with regards to others.
I'm not in a position to watch the comings and goings in the UK, but if Hendo fesses up to three of the charges, then case settled.
So pleased to see my boy (see avatar) listed as one of the best horses Mr Hills trained. He said at the time that he was the best horse he had ever had over a mile.
PN: Yes indeed, Barry Hills said some time before Haafhd's 2000 Gns triumph that he was the best miler he had ever trained. This was a statement not to be ignored? Turned out Haafhd stayed a Group 1 mile-and-a-quarter in the mud too! You must be immensely proud of him............
Wasn't Avatar an American horse from the 70s? may be wrong I haven't seen the list but I'd imagine Rheingold was number 1
KS: Agreed, he must have been, but I did say "miler". Rheingold was more than that! Don't think Barry Hills was far wrong about Haafhd, after all he did have Azamour behind him once, maybe twice, have forgotten!...........
From Wiki: "In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character." PNs Avatar is Haafhd, Filon's is a cat, Sir Barney's is some dodgy 2 mile chaser
<clears throat ready to trot out my claim to fame again> KS, I looked after him as a foal, 10 years ago. I was working for Darley at the time and Al Bahathri was one of a group of mares sent from Shadwell to visit Dubai Millennium. Normally the mares would have been brought over as and when they needed covering, but this was during the Foot & Mouth outbreak and everyone was paranoid that there would be a complete ban on livestock movements, so it made sense to have all the mares on the same stud as the stallion they were visiting. It was an impressive selection of mares from Shadwell in our barn - Al Bahathri, Bint Shadayid, Saleela (a 1/2 sister to Urban Sea). I look back and realise how blessed I was to spend my time with such horses and only wish I had kept a camera with me at all times. Sadly I have very few photos from that time. Back to my boy, I saw him race in the flesh 5 times - his maiden win on the July Course, his 3rd in the Dewhurst, his win in the Craven Stakes, his win in the Guineas and his win in the Champion Stakes. I backed him antepost for the Guineas at 33/1 and had a massive payday - my biggest ever, sadly nothing like it since! Unfortunately he has not really produced the goods at stud. While he has had some decent horses, he has lacked those few high profile Group winners that every stallion needs.
PN why do you think Sheikh Hamdan has had such a long lean spell? If I think back to some of the wonderful horses he owned like Salsabil, Nashwan and Dayjur, there is nothing of that quality to have come through his breeding operation in recent years. Have they just been unlucky? Or do you think there is more to it?
