Collier Hill

Last updated
Collier Hill
Sire Dr Devious
Grandsire Ahonoora
DamPolar Queen
DamsirePolish Precedent
Sex Gelding
Foaled1998
Country Great Britain
Colour Chestnut
Breeder George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
Owner J. David Abell, Richard Crowe & Russell H. Hall
Trainer Alan Swinbank
Record45: 15-10-6
Earnings £2,317,161
Major wins
Stockholm Cup International (2004, 2006)
Gerling-Preis (2005)
Irish St. Leger (2005)
Canadian International Stakes (2006)
Hong Kong Vase (2006)

Collier Hill (foaled 26 March 1998) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by the prominent American sportsman George W. Strawbridge, Jr. who was involved in both steeplechase and flat racing and who raced in Europe and the United States.

Contents

Background

Out of the mare Polar Queen, a granddaughter of Danzig, Collier Hill was sired by the 1992 Epsom Derby winner, Dr Devious. He was an unbroken three-year-old when Melsonby trainer Alan Swinbank purchased him at the 2001 Ascot Bloodstock Sales for £5,500. Swinbank sold a half-interest in the horse to Russell Hall and then the remaining half to Ashley Young. Renamed from Dr Freeze to Collier Hill after a hill on a farm owned by Hall, the horse suffered from a number of physical ailments and his race conditioning was a slow process.

Racing career

Collier Hill began his racing career in bumper races in North Yorkshire, where trainer Alan Swinbank operated his stables. He earned his first win as a four-year-old in March 2002 in a two-mile race at Catterick Bridge Racecourse in Catterick Bridge. After moderate success in hurdling races, Collier Hill began to show promise in flat racing, focusing on events where he could use his demonstrated ability at middle to long distances. In 2004, he won a Listed race at Hamilton Park Racecourse in Scotland, then earned his first significant victory when his handlers entered him in the Group 3 Stockholm Cup International at Taby Racecourse in Sweden. He was ridden by 45-year-old journeyman jockey Dean McKeown, who rode him for the rest of his career. Having handled travelling well, Collier Hill was sent to compete at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai in early 2005, where he won a turf handicap and ran third in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic. While the horse was racing in Dubai, a veterinarian diagnosed him as suffering from arthritis that required medication being given through injections in his joints on a near bi-monthly basis.

With an affinity for travelling and running on new venues, Collier Hill was shipped to Germany, where he won the 2005 Group 2 Gerling-Preis in Cologne and finished second in the Group 1 Deutschland-Preis at Düsseldorf. In July, he finished second by a head in the Curragh Cup at Ireland's famed Curragh Racecourse and came back in September to win the Group 1 Irish St. Leger, defeating Vinnie Roe, who had won the race the previous four years.

A disagreement between co-owner Ashley Young and trainer Alan Swinbank led to Collier Hill being put up for sale at a Tattersalls auction in October. Co-owner Russell Hall was the successful bidder who then immediately sold Young's former half-share to David Abell and Richard Crowe.

In 2006, Collier Hill raced with great success at venues around the world. He finished second in a repeat appearance in the Dubai Sheema Classic, returned to Sweden to win another Stockholm Cup International, and became the first 8-year-old to win the C$2 million Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada and the HK$14 million Hong Kong Vase in Hong Kong, China.

In the spring of 2007, Collier Hill was scheduled to make his first start of the year in the Dubai Sheema Classic. However, his age and continued arthritic affliction led to his withdrawal. After a career that saw him race in eight countries and earn more than £2.3 million in prize money, the gelding was retired.

When Collier Hill made his appearance in the Canadian International Stakes in Toronto, the Woodbine Entertainment Group pre-race publicity described him this way: "For fans of class, versatility and the ageless veteran, Collier Hill, is your equine superhero." [ permanent dead link ]

Related Research Articles

Catterick Racecourse Racecourse in Catterick, North Yorkshire, England

Catterick Racecourse, sometimes known as Catterick Bridge Racecourse, is a thoroughbred horse racing venue one mile north west of Catterick in North Yorkshire, England, near the hamlet of Catterick Bridge. The first racing at Catterick was held in 1783.

Jim And Tonic is a retired French Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced through age eight at tracks around the world and retired with earnings of €4,561,647, the most ever for any French racehorse.

Anthony Delpech is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey who competes internationally.

Viva Pataca British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Viva Pataca is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, who achieved his greatest success when trained in Hong Kong.

Dean Russell McKeown is a retired British Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He embarked on his professional career as a teenager, earning his first win in 1977. While never a Champion jockey, McKeown has won a number of important Conditions races in the United Kingdom including three editions of the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket Racecourse. He also won the Ebor Handicap (2002) and Chester Cup (2003) aboard Hugs Dancer then in the fall of 2004 became the regular jockey for trainer Alan Swinbank where he became an integral part of the racing success of Collier Hill. Throughout his career he earned a reputation for being one of the most astute form judges in the weighing-room.

Stay Gold (horse) Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Stay Gold was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who had his greatest success in international races. He was sired by Sunday Silence and was out of the mare Golden Sash by Dictus.

Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.

William Buick Norwegian-born flat jockey

William Buick is a British-Norwegian flat jockey. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. From 2010 to 2014 he was stable jockey to John Gosden. In 2015 he signed with Godolphin. Buick won his first Group1 race in Canada in 2010 and since then has won Group 1 races in England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. He has won four Classics: the St Leger in 2010, 2011 and 2021 and the Derby in 2018.

Nayef (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Nayef is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse an active sire, bred in the United States and trained in the United Kingdom during his racing career which ran from 2000 to 2003. He is best known for winning a series of important races including four Group One races: the Champion Stakes, the Dubai Sheema Classic, the International Stakes, and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Cirrus des Aigles French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Cirrus des Aigles is a retired French Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from October 2008 until December 2015 he has raced in France, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. After racing successfully at three and four years of age he improved to become one of the world's leading racehorses as a five-year-old in 2011. His achievements were recognised when he was awarded the title of European Champion Older Horse at the Cartier Racing Awards.

Phoenix Reach is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Although he never won above Group Three level in Britain he was a highly successful international campaigner, competing in seven different countries and winning major races in Canada, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. As a juvenile in 2002 he finished second on his only start before being sidelined by injury for more than a year. On his return as a three-year-old he won the Gordon Stakes and finished third in the St Leger before winning the Canadian International Stakes. In the following year he was slow to find his best form but thrived when sent to race in East Asia and won the Hong Kong Vase in December. He began his fourth season by winning the Dubai Sheema Classic and finished second in the Singapore Airlines International Cup, but the rest of his career was disrupted by illness and injury. He retired to stud at the end of 2006 and has had modest success as a sire of winners.

Postponed Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Postponed is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won one minor race as a two-year-old before establishing himself as a useful middle-distance performer in the following year with wins in the Glasgow Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes. In July 2015, he recorded his biggest victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse and followed up with a success in the Prix Foy. After a change of trainer he returned in 2016 to win the Dubai City of Gold, Dubai Sheema Classic, Coronation Cup and International Stakes. He was retired from racing in May 2017 having won 9 of his 20 races and earned nearly £5,000,000 in win and place prize money.

Daliapour is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from July 1998 until November 2002 he competed in seven different countries, running 26 times and winning seven races. The horse was bred by Aga Khan IV who owned him before selling him to Robert Ng in late 2000. He was originally trained by Luca Cumani before moving to Michael Stoute's stable in 2000. He was trained in Hong Kong by Ivan Allan for a few months in early 2001 before returning to Stoute for the remainder of his racing career.

Highland Reel Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Highland Reel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career running from June 2014 to December 2017 he raced in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai, and recorded seven victories at Group 1 or Grade 1 level in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase (twice), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was also placed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Cox Plate, International Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes. He holds the record for the greatest amount of prize money earned by a racehorse trained in Europe.

Hawkbill American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hawkbill is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. During his racing career he competed in England, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada and Dubai. In 2015 he was beaten on his first two appearances but then recorded three consecutive wins in minor races. As a three-year-old in 2016 he made rapid progress, taking his winning run to six with victories in the Newmarket Stakes, Tercentenary Stakes and Eclipse Stakes. As a four-year-old he won the Aston Park Stakes and Princess of Wales's Stakes and was placed in the Coronation Cup, Grosser Preis von Berlin and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He began his fourth season by winning the Dubai City of Gold and followed up by recording his most valuable success when he took the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Alan Swinbank was a British racehorse trainer whose horses competed in both Flat racing and National Hunt racing. Swinbank was based at racing stables in Melsonby, North Yorkshire. He trained the winners of more than 800 races in a career lasting from 1982 until his death, and gained his most notable success with Collier Hill. He died suddenly on 17 May 2017, aged 72.

Kastoria is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her upset victory over Yeats in the 2006 Irish St. Leger. Bred and owned by Aga Khan IV and trained by John Oxx she was a specialist stayer who competed in five different countries and won six of her thirteen races. Unraced at two or three years she began her racing career in 2005 when she won the Galtres Stakes and finished second in the Give Thanks Stakes, Park Hill Stakes and Prix de Royallieu. In the following year she won the Vintage Crop Stakes, Curragh Cup and Ballyroan Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Irish St. Leger. She also finished second in the Hong Kong Vase on her final racecourse appearance. As a broodmare she has produced some minor winners.

Cityscape (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Cityscape is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, who raced in England, Ireland, Hong Kong, France, Dubai, Canada and Italy and was twice rated among the top 40 racehorses in the world.

Cherry Mix was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning one minor race as a juvenile in 2003 he made steady progress in the following year. He was placed in the Prix Noailles and the Prix Hocquart and went on to win both the Prix Frederic de Lagrange and the Grand Prix de Deauville before producing his best performance when narrowly beaten in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. When transferred to Godolphin in 2005 he won the Gran Premio del Jockey Club. In 2006 he recorded further major wins in the Rheinland-Pokal and the Premio Roma. He was retired from racing at the end of the 2007 season.

Old Persian (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Old Persian, is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who has raced in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Canada and the United States. He showed promise as a two-year-old in 2017 when he won two minor races from four starts. In the following year he showed top-class form over middle distances, winning the Fairway Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes and fifth in the St Leger. He improved again as a four-year-old, winning the Dubai City of Gold, Dubai Sheema Classic and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He ran poorly in two races as a five-year-old and was retired from racing.

References