Richard Hills to retire after Dubai World Cup

Richard Hills, retained jockey to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, is to retire from the saddle on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31, according to British press reports.

The rider, who turned 49 last month, was shown great loyalty by Sheikh Hamdan and wore his famous blue and white colours to victory in many Group Ones, in Britain and abroad.

In a statement issued through his agent John Robertson, Hills said: "It has been my privilege to ride for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum as first jockey for the last 15 years and previously as second jockey to W (Willie) Carson for two years. No jockey could have ridden for a more loyal and supportive owner.

"I was very fortunate to start my career with a great man in Tom Jones and without him much of what I have achieved would not have been possible."

Hills, whose career has spanned 33 years, rode five British Classic winners for Sheikh Hamdan, taking the 1000 Guineas on Harayir (1995), Lahan (2000) and Ghanaati (2009).

Arguably Hills' most important success came on Almutawakel in the Dubai World Cup of 1999, which carried first-place prize money of £1.8 million. "He's done very well for himself, holding down the same job for all those years," said Hills' father, Barry, who retired from training in August.

He won the 2000 Guineas on Haafhd in 2004 - like Ghanaati trained by his father Barry - and the Oaks on the Michael Jarvis-trained Eswarah in 2005. In 1999, Hills won the Dubai World Cup on the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Almutawakel.

The statement went on: "I now want to use my knowledge and experience gained during my career to date to further contribute to Sheikh Hamdan and the Shadwell team, including Derrinstown and Shadwell Farms. Closing one chapter, a new one begins."

Hills had his first winner on Border Dawn at Doncaster in October 1979 and was appointed Sheikh Hamdan's second jockey in 1995. He had already landed his first Group One win in those famous blue and white silks on Ashal in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 1990.

His other major victories included four Group One races on the Marcus Tregoning-trained Nayef - the 2001 Champion Stakes, the 2002 Dubai Sheema Classic, the 2002 Juddmonte International and the Prince of Wales's Stakes in 2003.

A renowned judge of pace, two of Hills' best front-running performances came in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot when providing big shocks on Maroof in 1994 and Summoner in 2001. He also won the St Leger at Doncaster in 1999 for Godolphin on Mutafaweq.

Trainers who enjoyed success with Hills were full of praise for the jockey after the announcement of his impending retirement.

Marcus Tregoning was among those who recalled the great days he shared with Hills and some of Sheikh Hamdan's Al Maktoum's best horses.

"We had some really good days, especially when Nayef won the Sheema Classic. The horse was flying that year in Dubai and in all Richard won four Group Ones on Nayef," said the Lambourn trainer.

"Another close association he had with another really good horse of mine was Mubtaker. He won six times at Newbury and Richard was on him for most of those. He was a really solid performer over a number of years and was very unlucky not to win the Arc. Richard has had a great time with the Sheikh's horses."

John Dunlop has trained for Sheikh Hamdan for many years and described Hills as "a most consistent stable jockey".

The Arundel trainer said: "He very kindly rang me from Dubai to confirm that he is going to retire at the end of the Carnival at the end of March prior to the English turf season. He has been the most marvellous, reliable, most consistent stable jockey you could possibly have. And a very nice young man, too.

"I'm glad to hear he's going to take some sort of role in Sheikh Hamdan's operation in future. I think the best he rode for me was probably Elnadim. He won the July Cup and was a top, top horse. Richard has done us very well over these years and I do wish him well in the future."

Mark Johnston was another trainer to thank Hills for his efforts, the jockey having steered Awzaan to victory in Sheikh Hamdan's colours in the 2009 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

The Middleham handler said: "We've had some great times with Richard. One of the highlights was Awzaan in the Middle Park. He's been a jockey we've done really well with and not just with Sheikh Hamdan's horses. He's a jockey we've tended to use and do well with.

"He's ridden some big winners for us at Ascot, so we've always got on well with him. He's an extremely good front-running jockey and that tends to suit our horses and I've always liked to use him at Ascot. We've had a great association with him and some great times."
 

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