Hills announces retirement plans

Richard Hills, retained jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, is to retire from the saddle on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31.

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).

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.