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| Staff Writer |
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Trainer Charlie Hills is well aware of the competition that awaits his runners entered in the Bahrain International Trophy Cup but with Pogo entering off of a close finish behind multiple Group winning Benbatl in the Gr. Joel Stakes, the Lambourn-based conditioner has plenty reasons for optimism.
Gary and Linnet Woodward owned 5YO rolls into the £500,000 feature race off five wins across his career as a racehorse with over US$ 334,800 in earnings.
“We bought Pogo at Goffs UK Premier Sale. His owner Gary Woodward came down to look at a few horses we had bought there and luckily liked him the most!” said Hills.
"A story has no beginning or end," wrote Graham Greene. "Arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead."
Hills and Pogo are one such story.
“Gary and Linnet were my brothers John’s (who sadly died in 2015) biggest owners and very good friends.
“We were lucky enough to inherit Gary and Lin's horses and have become very good friends with them and their family.
“To have a horse racing for them at such a prestigious meeting is very special,” he said.
A favourite in the yard, Pogo, made a winning seasonal debut in the listed race at Leicester.
“Pogo is a very energetic horse who absolutely loves his job,” said the leading trainer.
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“He was quite difficult to handle at times as a young horse and we had to work hard to channel his energy the right way.
“He's now an absolute pleasure to train, but still has his big personality.
“Damian who looks after him and rides him does a very good job,” he said.
“It's a sharp track which he will enjoy because he's not an overly big horse and is very nimble,” said Hills, “He will also love the fast ground.”
Although Bahrain is a firm go, it will not be his final race in the Middle East this season. Hills says say if the Ireland-bred son of Zebedee continues to train sharply, the entire will close out his season with starts in both Saudi and Dubai.
Charlie Hills makes his Middle East season debut in Bahrain with Pogo, hoping to then race his charge in Dubai thereafter.
“We will definitely have a look at the Dubai World Cup Carnival programme, but nothing is set in stone. We will see how he is after this race,” said Hills.
He previously raced Afaak in the Bahrain International Trophy (2019), who finished fourth behind Royal Julius.
“Winning in Bahrain would mean a lot. The Bahrain International Trophy is a prestigious prize which any trainer would love to win,” he said, “Bahrain itself and the owners here are very much an up and coming force in international horse racing.”
All photos provided by Charlie Hills Racing. Photos credited to Alice Musacci.