Tregoning leads tributes

The Lambourn trainer and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's retained rider enjoyed top level success together with Nayef.

"We had some really good days, especially when Nayef won the Sheema Classic. The horse was flying that year in Dubai and in all Richard won four Group Ones on Nayef," said the trainer.

"Another close association he had with another really good horse of mine was Mubtaker. He won six times at Newbury and Richard was on him for most of those.

"He (Mubtaker) was a really solid performer for Sheikh Hamdan over a number of years and was very unlucky not to win the Arc when he was collared by the best three-year-old in Europe, Dalakhani. That was a memorable day's racing. A fantastic day for us. Richard has had a great time with the Sheikh's horses."

Consistency Key

John Dunlop has trained for Sheikh Hamdan for many years, and described Hills as "a most consistent stable jockey".

The Arundel trainer said: "He very kindly rang me from Dubai to confirm that he is going to retire at the end of the Carnival at the end of March prior to the English turf season.

"He rode primarily for Tom Jones when he first started riding for Sheikh Hamdan, but subsequent to that, and after Willie Carson's retirement, he rode as number one jockey for Sheikh Hamdan and has been the most marvellous, reliable, most consistent stable jockey that you could possibly have. And a very nice young man, too.

"I'm glad to hear he's going to take some sort of role in Sheikh Hamdan's operation in future.

"I think the best he rode for me, as sadly all the Classic winners we had were in Willie's reign, was probably Elnadim. He won the July Cup and was a top, top horse.

"Richard has done us very well over these years and I do wish him well in the future."