Michael Hills

Michael Patrick Hills was born at Newmarket on January 22, 1963, and became apprenticed to Jeremy Hindley.

His first winner was Sky Thief at Nottingham, August 13, 1979 (on his first ride).

Michael's last winner was Winter Song at Newmarket on November 2, 2012.

His twin brother, Richard, was also a successful jockey.

Michael won the 1996 Epsom Derby on Shaamit, plus a host of other good races.

Article courtesy Chas Hammond

Classic winners:

Derby: Shaamit (1996)

Irish One Thousand Guineas: Nicer (1993), Hula Angel (1999)

Other big winners include:

1985: Dewhurst Stakes – Huntingdale

1987: Supreme Stakes – Asteroid Field

1987: Challenge Stakes – Asteroid Field

1988: Duke of York Stakes – Handsome Sailor

1988: Temple Stakes – Handsome Sailor

1988: Nunthorpe Stakes – Handsome Sailor

1988: Celebration Mile – Prince Rupert

1988: Dewhurst Stakes – Scenic (dead-heat)

1989: City and Suburban Handicap – Dismiss

1989: Dee Stakes – Free Sweater

1989: Hungerford Stakes – Distant Relative

1989: Celebration Mile – Distant Relative

1989: Challenge Stakes – Distant Relative

1989: Fillies’ Mile – Silk Slippers

1989: Rockfel Stakes – Negligent

1990: Hungerford Stakes – Norwich

1990: Ebor Handicap – Further Flight

1991: Goodwood Cup – Further Flight

1991: Jockey Club Cup – Further Flight

1991: St Simon Stakes – Further Flight

1992: Nell Gwyn Stakes – A-To-Z

1992: Goodwood Cup – Further Flight

1992: Doncaster Cup – Further Flight

1992: Champagne Stakes – Petardia

1992: Flying Childers Stakes – Poker Chip

1992: Jockey Club Cup – Further Flight

1993: Dee Stakes – Beneficial

1993: King Edward VII Stakes – Beneficial

1993: July Stakes – First Trump

1993: Richmond Stakes – First Trump

1993: Jockey Club Cup – Further Flight

1994: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Owington

1994: Ascot Gold Cup – Arcadian Heights

1994: Queen’s Vase – Silver Wedge

1994: Old Newton Cup – Glide Path

1994: Jockey Club Cup – Further Flight

1995: Dee Stakes – Pentire

1995: Queen Anne Stakes – Nicolette

1995: King Edward VII Stakes – Pentire

1995: Jockey Club Cup – Further Flight

1996: Dee Stakes – Prize Giving

1996: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – First Island

1996: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Pentire

1996: Sussex Stakes – First Island

1996: Dewhurst Stakes – In Command

1997: Lockinge Stakes – First Island

1997: Coronation Stakes – Rebecca Sharp

1997: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Royal Applause

1997: Haydock Sprint Cup – Royal Applause

1999: Dewhurst Stakes – Distant Music

2001: King Edward VII Stakes – Storming Home

2002: Champion Stakes – Storming Home

2003: Lincoln Handicap – Pablo

2003: John Smith’s Cup – Far Lane

2004: Chesham Stakes – Whazzat

2005: Coventry Stakes – Red Clubs

2005: Coronation Stakes – Maids Causeway

2005: Nunthorpe Stakes – La Cuccaracha

2006: Ribblesdale Stakes – Mont Etoile

2007: Haydock Sprint Cup – Red Clubs

2007: Middle Park Stakes – Dark Angel

2010: Britannia Stakes – Ransom Note

2010: King’s Stand Stakes – Equiano

In Ireland

1986: National Stakes – Lockton

1987: Matron Stakes – Pixie Erin

1989: Flying Five – Handsome Sailor

In France

1988: Prix de l’Abbaye – Handsome Sailor

1994: Prix Morny – Hoh Magic

1997: Prix d’Ispahan – Sasuru

1999: Prix Jean Prat – Golden Snake

In Italy

1995: Premio di Capua – Nicolette

In Hong Kong

1996: Hong Kong Cup – First Island

Insight into Michael Hills.

If you had to switch careers, what job would you do?

F1 driver.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Expect nothing and you will never be disappointed, but instead pleasantly surprised.

Which race would you most like to win?

The Derby again.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Richard [my twin].

If there is one thing you could change about your life, what would it be?

Not to have to spend so much time in my car travelling to race meetings. The traffic is awful no matter where you go.

Who would you really like to meet?

Ryan Giggs.

If you were taking someone racing for the first time, where would you go? Newmarket.

Which is the best racecourse?

Ascot.

Which track could do better? Newmarket. Facilities for the jockeys at the July course are old-fashioned, dark and hot. They could easily be improved.

What is your favourite sport outside racing to watch? You can't beat a good game of football.

And to play? I'm not bad at darts - ask my friend Tim.

Which sport won't you watch? Cricket, although my wife Chris loves it.

Sum yourself up in five words

Lover of life and people.

What or who really annoys you?

Long texts from a friend, with more rabbit than Sainsbury's. She knows who she is; I won't embarrass her more than that.

What's your favourite programme on TV?

Deal or No Deal.

Apart from racingpost.com, on which websites do you spend most time?

templetonstud.com, my former sponsor.

What was the last film you saw?

Snatch is a great film; I never tire of watching it.

Give us a playlist of your favourite five songs (and artists)

Fergie (Glamorous); M People (Moving on Up); Take That (Patience) and anything by Ronan Keating, as he's a friend of mine.

Give us a horse to keep an eye on.

Shropshire.

A trainer to watch out for.

John Ryan.

And a jockey?

Patrick Hills.

What was the best day of your racing life?

A split between winning the Derby on Shaamit and the fifth consecutive Jockey Club Cup on Further Flight.

Who's your favourite horse ever?

Further Flight.

You're forced to have a tattoo, what does it say?

I hate tattoos. You should only brand cattle.

What would be your specialist subject on Mastermind?

Pass.

Where would you recommend as a holiday destination, and why?

The Caribbean, for obvious reasons.

Best/worst subjects at school?

Didn't have a best; I detested school.

You're invited to a fancy dress party - what will you go as?

A sheikh.

You hear an intruder in the house while you're in bed, what's the first thing you do?

Wake the wife.

Which teams do you support?

England.

What would you do with the England football team?

Pay on win-only results; get the passion back.

What's your favourite restaurant or pub for a night out?

The Green Man at Six Mile Bottom for a great steak, and The Marquis of Granby in Stetchworth for darts.

What's your favourite food and drink?

My wife's spaghetti bolognese and dry(ish) white wine.

Apart from prize-money, what's the first thing you would change if you took over racing?

Cut out the rubbish and get racecourses and bookmakers to put more money back into the sport.

Nicest moments on a racecourse?

When you pull up after a big success, it's just you and the horse and I always thank him or her for the huge effort they gave me to win - before anyone joins in the celebrations.

What gives you the most pleasure?

Watching my family have success - I'm very proud to be a part of it.

What is the strangest/funniest thing you have ever seen on a racecourse?

Getting asked "Can I have your autograph, Frankie?" and looking up as I'm signing it to see Frankie looking on.

Tell us something about yourself that only you know.

If I told you that, then everyone would know.

What keeps you awake at night?

Not a lot, but I never really sleep until our daughter Samantha gets in from a night out.

Who'd be your four ideal dinner party guests? Kelly Brook and three really ugly/boring guys, so I stood half a chance!

And one to be marooned with on a desert island?

Better say the wife.