Following the passing of the great Barry Hills, we would like to remember one of his greatest training achievements - one that involved keeping a wonderful horse consistent and sound for the best part of ten years. In the pantheon of British stayers of the past fifty years, not too many are remembered with the fondness and admiration reserved for Further Flight. A horse of immense grit and charisma, this dashing grey gelding carved out a legendary career in the silks of Simon Wingfield Digbys. Over nearly a decade on the track, Further Flight became not only a model of consistency and longevity, but a cult hero whose exploits transcended mere statistics. 

A Late Bloomer with an Iron Will

Foaled in 1986, Further Flight was by Pharly out of Flying Nelly, a stoutly-bred mare who no doubt contributed to his bottomless stamina. Not a precocious type, Further Flight came into his own as a four-year-old and would go on to enjoy an extraordinary career that spanned 70 starts, yielding 24 wins, 18 placings from 70 starts, and over £500,000 in prize money — a remarkable sum for a stayer of his era.

Trained throughout by Barry Hills, Further Flight exemplified Hills’ ability to coax longevity and improvement from a horse. He was gelded early and built more like a chaser than a flat horse, but what he lacked in glamour he made up for in sheer tenacity and heart.

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Dominance in the Jockey Club Cup

Further Flight’s signature achievement remains his unparalleled five consecutive victories in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket from 1991 to 1995. No other horse in the modern era has matched this feat in a single Pattern race, and it earned him a permanent place in the affections of the racing public.

Year after year, he would return to Newmarket in the autumn, often defying younger, flashier types and silencing doubters who questioned whether this might be the year the streak ended. It never did — not until age and time, rather than an opponent, caught up with him.

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Racing in the Shadows of Legends

While Further Flight never won a Group 1, he routinely locked horns with some of the best stayers of the day. He competed with credit against the likes of Vintage Crop, Double Trigger, Sadeem, and Arzanni, and was frequently seen at the business end of the Goodwood Cup, Yorkshire Cup, and Doncaster Cup.

His most memorable win outside the Jockey Club Cup came in the 1991 Ebor Handicap, under a weight-carrying performance that solidified his reputation as a true warrior. Even in defeat, his presence elevated a race. He was often asked to concede weight to improving younger horses, yet he rarely ran a bad race — finishing out of the first four only a handful of times in his entire career.

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The People’s Champion

Further Flight’s grey coat made him instantly recognisable, and his consistency turned him into a crowd favourite. His durability was almost as celebrated as his ability. From 1990 through to his retirement in 1998, he raced through nine seasons, earning accolades from all corners of the racing world. In 1995, he was honoured with the Order of Merit and was named the Horse of the Year in a public vote — a remarkable achievement for a staying handicapper in an era dominated by flashy milers and sprinters.

Life After Racing

After his retirement, Further Flight enjoyed a happy life looked after by Michael Hills who rode him to so many victories. His passing in 2001 after a paddock accident marked the end of an era, but his legacy lives on in the memories of those who cheered for him across nearly a decade of racing.

The Further Flight Stakes, run annually at Nottingham over 1m6f, stands as a fitting tribute — a Listed race for stayers that honours the horse who proved that brilliance is not measured only by speed or glamour, but by heart, consistency, and the ability to keep coming back for more.

The Final Word

In this industry where the flat racing stars often shine briefly before being whisked off to stud, Further Flight was a welcome anomaly: a genuine old-school campaigner who earned his place in racing folklore the hard way — by turning up, year after year, and giving his all. Under the astute eye of Barry Hills and in the hands of his regular partners like Michael Hills and John Lowe, Further Flight became something greater than a racehorse — he became a symbol of resilience, professionalism, and heart.

In remembering Further Flight, we remember not just the exploits of a legendary stayer - we remember another legend, his trainer Barrington William Hills (2 April 1937 – 27 June 2025). RIP Barry. Give that big grey fella a generous pat from all of us.