Islander given Hollywood role

John Hills is dreaming of further stateside glory for improving three-year-old Dark Islander.

The Singspiel colt made a big impression when running out a cosy length-and-a-quarter winner of the Grade Two Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita on October 14.

He is now set to tackle the Hollywood Derby in late November.

Prior to his latest success, Hills’ inmate confirmed himself to be on the upgrade when easing to a convincing victory in a well-contested Bath handicap.

Hills said: “He was pretty impressive that day at Bath and the horse he beat then – Humungous of Charlie Egerton’s – is no slow-coach.

“We wanted to run this horse in the Cambridgeshire but we always knew there was a risk that the ground might go in October so we had this contingency plan to come over to California.

“Once he had to be withdrawn from the Cambridgeshire that was put into effect and he did it very nicely.

“It’s hard to know quite what he beat but he couldn’t have done it in better style.

“I’m going over on Friday and I’m going to give him a little bit of work and if everything is still going well he’ll run in the Hollywood Derby on November 26.”

Hills hopes Dark Islander will stay in training as a four-year-old and prove smart enough to tackle some major prizes throughout 2007.

“We’ll take one step at a time but there’s races like the Dubai Duty Free and in the Summer. there’s all the nice mile races back in England so that’s what we’re dreaming about,” he told At The Races.