Leading British trainer Charlie Hills has outlined his plans for his exciting recruit Tilsit after the three year old staked his claim at the top table when winning the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The son of First Defence has been a shining light for the yard this term starting his career at Newcastle finishing a narrow second to the smart Al Salt for William Haggas.
From there the Prince Khalid Abdullah owned youngster has been unbeaten, winning a Newcastle maiden by 19 lengths and then showing that, that run was not a fluke and landed the Group Three at Goodwood.
It looks as though his handler will step him up to a Group Two or even better giving him a chance in his first black type race for his next event with the Group Two Celebration Mile back at Goodwood on August 29th and the Group One Prix du Moulin over the same trip at ParisLongchamp on September 6th have been identified as possible targets.
(Credit ATR) Hills said: “We are going to have a sit down with the Juddmonte team and Teddy Grimthorpe and see what Prince Khalid (Abdullah) wants to do as there are a few options.
Carnage!
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) July 31, 2020
Ryan Moore is unable to prevent his mount TILSIT veering quite badly to the right, cutting up the eventual runner-up My Oberon 🐎
Quite a messy race in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, but thankfully all okay..
🎥 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/ZN3wLEGOre
“We are happy with how he has come out of the race and we will probably stay at a mile, but I’m sure he will get further in time.
“He could go back to Goodwood for the Celebration Mile or maybe wait for the Moulin.
“We are slightly wary of the fact he is pretty lightly raced and stepping up from a Group Three to a Group One could be a big ask. He is an exciting horse going forward.”
Tilsit did have undergo a stewards enquiry in his win at Goodwood with him interfering with My Oberon in the final stages of the Group Three but still came away with the victory and Hills believe he will learn from that experience.
He added: “He never really learnt much in his two runs at Newcastle as he had to pretty much make the running through the two races.
“What happened at the end of his race at Goodwood was just through greenness, while it was his turf debut on a tough track and we’ve not worked him much on the grass as we’ve had a dry summer.
“I was really impressed with the way he picked up and how he put the race to bed. He will be better for the experience.”