Legendary Hills calls it a day
Shead is better placed than most to assess Hills’ training ability, having owned a share in arguably the trainer’s greatest horse, Rheingold.
In 1972, the Dante Stakes winner was only narrowly denied by Roberto and Lester Piggott in the Epsom
Derby. He then went on the take the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, a feat he would go on to match the following year.
An excellent 1973 campaign also yielded glory in the Prix Ganay and the Hardwicke Stakes, as well success in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Piggott this time in the saddle.
Six years later, Shead and Hills teamed up for Classic glory with 2000 Guineas hero Tap On Wood, a horse who gave American Steve Cauthen his first British Classic win.
“We have been close friends every since I first met him in his third year of training, when I became one of the owners of Rheingold,” said Shead.
“He raced in the colours of hisoriginal owner (Henry Zeisel), but I, along with another nine people in a syndicate, owned 80% of the horse. He was the ultimate professional and a lot of that was down to Barry, who could always be relied upon to have him ready for the big occasion. I also had many, many happy days with Tap On Wood, with his Guineas success being the clear highlight.
“Shortly after the Guineas, Barry’s horses developed a virus, which meant he (Tap On Wood) didn’t return until the autumn, when he won a Group Two at Doncaster.
“After that he was retired to stud in Ireland, but was a superb horse. Barry is a very great man and we have always been firm friends.”
Hills saddled 10 Classic winners in Britain and Ireland and will officially hand over his training licence toCharlie Hills, his son and current assistant, after next week’s Ebor Festival at York.
Shead is in no doubt the transition will be a seamless one.
“Barry was, obviously, a very successful trainer, but I’m veryconfident Charlie, who has beenassistant for some years now, will carry on the family dynasty,” he added.
Hills, 74, has trained over 3,200 winners and will remain as managing director of the family company.
Pat Eddery was champion jockey 11 times and among his big-race wins for Hills was a St Leger victory onMoonax in 1994.
Eddery said: “Barry is a great trainer and one of the old school. It’s sad that he’s called it a day, but his boy is taking over and good luck to him. I’m sure Barry will have taught him really well.
“He was a good man to ride for. I really enjoyed it and I loved riding work for him. You used to come back in after a hard day’s work and you’d have a beautiful breakfast. He was a gentleman.
“He’s got guys working for him who’ve been there 25 years, which says all you need to know about what he’s like to work for.
“I won the English Leger and the French Leger on Moonax and I also won the Ribblesdale and the Irish Oaks on Bolas for Barry the same year.
“He’s a brilliant trainer and he came from nowhere, so you’ve got to admire him.
“He’s an amazing man who has trained for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mohammed and KhalidAbdullah – he’s got them all.
“You can’t beat him and I wish him the best of luck.”
