English-based jockey Richard Hills, who was widely criticized by the Australian press for his ride aboard Godolphin Racing's second-place finisher Give the Slip in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) at Flemington racecourse on November 6, claims he was faulted because his riding style differs from that of Australian riders.

Comments in the media ranged from calling him "dopey" and "asleep" to being "as big a clod as what his horse was kicking up."

The remarks centered on Hills's decision to keep Give the Slip on the rail in the race rather than guiding him wide for a late rally. Some reporters said they believed the strategy cost Give the Slip the race. The four-year-old son of Slip Anchor finished second, three-quarters of a length behind the victorious Ethereal.

"Australians haven't seen much racing other than their own," Hills told the London Evening Standard. "They train their horses to sprint, and most of them don't really stay the two miles of the Melbourne Cup, so they always hold them up for a late run. They think their way of racing is the right way and if you don't conform to it, you're wrong."

Hills said that Godolphin connections were satisfied with his performance and that he would not change the strategy if he could ride the race again.