Tag Archive for: Stuart Williams

Gabriella Hill bringing historic link to Newmarket

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Gabriella Hill, the great-granddaughter of Dawn Run’s owner Charmian Hill, could become a familiar face in Newmarket, as she ventures across the Irish Sea for her first taste of British racing’s Headquarters.

She registered the third victory of her fledgling riding career when guiding Henry de Bromhead’s Trubshaw to victory at Sligo on Wednesday, her first success in the famous silks once worn by Jonjo O’Neill when guiding the magnificent Dawn Run to victory in both the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the 1980s.

Hill’s previous two winners had come for Jim Bolger and with her claim now reduced to 7lb, she will spread her wings by joining Stuart Williams on a trial basis in the heartland of British racing.

Hill said: “He’s (Trubshaw) come on a lot in his last few runs and it’s great to get a win in the family colours.

Gabriella Hill after riding a winner for Jim Bolger
Gabriella Hill after riding a winner for Jim Bolger (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I’m getting the boat over to Newmarket on Monday to join Stuart Williams.

“He has a good few horses and I’m looking forward to it.”

Williams will be hoping Hill continues the promising start she has made to her career in Ireland and is looking forward to welcoming her to his Diomed Stables team.

He added: “She is going to come over for a trial for a couple of weeks and to see if she enjoys Newmarket and see how we get on together and then make a decision from there.

“She rode a winner on Wednesday night and hopefully she will enjoy being with us and stay for a while.”

Williams believes Quinault has ‘more to offer’ at York

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Quinault will aim to extend his unbeaten run at York to four in what is sure to be a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes on August 23.

Stuart Williams’ prolific winner booked his spot in the new Group One when successful in the Criterion Stakes on the Knavesmire in June, a race which qualified him to start in the City of York.

“We had him spot on for that race (in June) and you’re delighted to win a race there, of that prestige, and get the win-and-you’re-in prize for the City of York,” said Williams.

“He obviously loves the track, it’s suited him really well and he’s unbeaten up there.

“It’s hard to assess what’s going to run at the moment, but they’ll have to run hard to beat him. He tries like hell and wherever he finishes he’ll do his absolute best. They’ll have to keep up with him because he’ll go a good clip – and he keeps going.

“In the race (the Criterion) he won there, they were sort of catching him halfway up the straight, but he did the second-quickest last furlong, so he was not stopping at the end. We’re hopeful he can do that again.

“I still think he’s got more to offer – I still think he’s on his improve.”

He added: “I think it’s an important thing for the calendar to have a Group One seven-furlong race in Britain – it fits in well with the (Prix de la) Foret, which is six weeks further down the line. It should be a nice stepping-stone for that.

“We’ll enjoy the day whatever happens, I’m sure he’ll do his best and he won’t be far away.”

Quinault not for passing in Criterion Stakes at York

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Jason Hart excelled aboard Quinault, as Stuart Williams’ stable star maintained his unbeaten York record by making every yard in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes.

The five-year-old has long been an admirable servant for his Newmarket handler and always capable of mixing it at a high level and proved so once again to notch his 11th career success.

A 12-1 chance for the first running of the Group Three event on the Knavesmire, Hart wasted little time taking the initiative and although plenty tried to reel Quinault in late on, he held on gamely for a length success over Kevin Ryan’s fast-finishing Room Service.

Williams said: “We’re delighted and he’s always been a high-class horse. We hoped he was up to winning at Group level, before he’d only won at Listed level but when he gets his own way in front he’s a hard horse to get past and he’s always determined to win which helps.

“Jason gave him a great ride and he had his conditions today which helped. He really likes York and funnily enough he’s won three times at York now and is unbeaten at the track. He’s just a really good horse basically.”

Paddy Power make Quinault a 16-1 chance for the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, but it is more likely he returns to Yorkshire for a tilt at Group One glory in the upgraded Sky Bet City of York Stakes during the Ebor Festival on August 23.

“I think for sure we’ll have a crack at the City Of York and that was the reason for coming here rather than the Chipchase at Newcastle,” continued Williams.

“We’ll see what he’s like at home but I would imagine the plan would be to go straight to it. If he got a bit fresh at home, which he can and he does take his racing well, we might have to look at something else in between.”