Dubai: Hillstar, a four-year-old representing legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute, is a colt who should be given a lot of respect in the Sheema Classic.

Stoute, a native of Barbados, is without doubt one of the best racehorse trainers in the world. He is also well known for his patient approach, having improved several runners to compete at the top level as older horses.

Racing fans in Dubai will remember him for lifting the World Cup with Singspiel back in 1997, when the race was run on dirt at Nad Al Sheba. Singspiel was coming off a win in the Japan Cup (G1) on turf and already established in the elite.

Hillstar is not quite there yet, but his best pieces of form in England last season indicate that one day he will be. Having been an eye-catching maiden winner at two, Hillstar was a horse surrounded by high expectations at three, though he was beaten on his first two starts last year.

Then he seemed to turn a corner, and turn it in style, when beating Battle Of Marengo to win the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) over 2400 metres at Royal Ascot in June. Battle Of Marengo, who had been fourth in the Derby (G1) at Epsom earlier in the month, fought back well when Hillstar came with a strong late kick, but the Stoute horse proved too good. He won by a length and was going away at the finish.

The well bred son of Danehill Dancer was stepped up in class again the following month, when he met some of the best older horses in Europe in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), again racing over 2400 metres at Ascot.

Hillstar did show improved form, though winning this race was too tough, and he settled for third, behind the German champion Novellist and Irish Derby (G1) winner Trading Leather. Three and a half weeks later, Stoute sent Hillstar to York, to contest the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) over 2100 metres.

Top older horses were once more in opposition and Hillstar ran another creditable race in defeat, passing the post in fourth place, behind Declaration Of War, Trading Leather and Al Kazeem.

The winner went on to run a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in the autumn, proving how solid this form was.

Hillstar is the right type for a course like Meydan. He is a neat, well balanced colt with a fine turn of foot. He prefers good to firm ground and he is open to improvement.

In other words, he’s one to consider in the Sheema.

— The author is the editor of www.stabell.co.uk