FIT THE BILL
Supplemented by Godolphin for Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse, Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) fully justified that decision with a defeat of The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a thrilling tussle up Sandown's hill as the 3-year-olds came out firmly on top. Given the green light for this test following a fifth straight success in the G3 Tercentenary S. over this trip at Royal Ascot June 16, the 6-1 shot was the virtual early leader under William Buick behind the pacemaker Countermeasure (GB) (American Post {GB}). Hooking up with Ballydoyle's 4-6 favourite halfway up the straight, the chestnut began to assert from the furlong pole and stuck at his guns to record a half-length success. “What a call by the whole team to supplement him,” his rider, who is due to start a well-documented 30-day ban, commented. “Winning these big races is important and this horse has come at a good time for me. He goes on the ground very well and the future is very bright for him. His demeanour has changed a lot this year and he has grown up mentally and physically.”
Saturday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £525,000, SAN, 7-2, 3yo/up, 10f 7yT, 2:10.71, g/s.
1–&HAWKBILL, 122, c, 3, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Trensa (GSP-US, $170,470), by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Serape, by Fappiano
3rd Dam: Mochila, by In Reality
($350,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Godolphin; B-Helen K Groves Revocable Trust (KY); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £297,728. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-1, $520,021. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″][bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]2–The Gurkha (Ire), 122, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Chintz (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Chintz Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £112,875.
3–Time Test (GB), 133, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Passage of Time (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Roger Charlton. £56,490.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 6.00, 0.65, 6.00.
Also Ran: Countermeasure (GB), My Dream Boat (Ire), Western Hymn (GB), Bravery (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Charlie Appleby has shown during his short spell as trainer for Godolphin that he is capable of producing the goods when it matters with the likes of the G1 Middle Park S. winner Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), G2 Champagne S. scorer Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal) and G1 Jebel Hatta hero Tryster (Ire) (Shamardal). On a day of days for him and the operation as a whole, Hawkbill took a further leap up the ranks after the stable's Endless Time (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had provided the first part of a big-race double in Haydock's G2 Lancashire Oaks. Four of his five starts at two came on the Polytrack, with wins in a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield in July, a nursery over that trip at Kempton the following month and a mile conditions race also at the latter venue in September offering evidence of above-average ability. Returning to capture the Apr. 30 Listed Newmarket S. over this trip, he avoided Chantilly's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when the heavy rains came but handled the easy conditions at Royal Ascot admirably as he gave connections something to think seriously about with his Tercentenary success. Hawkbill has been steered at home with the magic hands of Shane Fetherstonhaugh, who was such an essential part of the education of Frankel (GB) and Motivator (GB), and approaching the Eclipse his work had been of the requisite standard to ensure all concerned took the plunge. In the race itself, he travelled with the most rhythm of all the main contenders taking a tow from Countermeasure as The Gurkha was a touch keen for Ryan Moore in behind. As that rival was snatched up after the bend with Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Hawkbill closing the gap on him, the Godolphin representative had a smoother transition to the business end but it looked for a few strides inside the final two furlongs that he would play second fiddle to The Gurkha as they squared up. As he showed at Newmarket and Ascot, Hawkbill has that rare ability to find extra when joined and from the furlong pole the writing was on the wall for the favourite when stamina came more into play. “After Ascot, we let the horse come out and saw how he'd done and he was thriving in the middle of that week,” Appleby said. “We got together and felt we should be looking at this type of race and after a quiet week we were delighted with what we saw last Saturday morning.” John Ferguson, Godolphin's racing manager and chief executive, added, “It's a big day and a great team effort. Sheikh Mohammed was very keen that we supplement this horse and I'm delighted for him. He's back in Dubai watching, we've already spoken to him and he's thrilled. Everybody plays such a huge role in making these things happen, so when it does happen it's really special. These are huge events to win, for Godolphin and any other owner. He's a horse that has improved and improved and the sky is the limit for him. I think it's going to be a really enjoyable time now thinking where to go. Hopefully, His Highness will be back for the July Meeting and we can all sit down and have a think about where to go. There's no hurry and the horse has a great future in front of him.” Aidan O'Brien felt that the easing of the ground may have tested The Gurkha's stamina beyond stretching point. “He ran very well and we always viewed him as a Galileo with speed and a miler, but because he did so well after Ascot we thought we'd take in this race on the way to the [G1] Sussex [S. at Goodwood July 27]. He travelled very well today and I'm not sure, but maybe his stamina just ran out a little bit in the soft ground. He handles the ground, but maybe when a horse is that pacy it can get them. It was a little bit messy off the bend and things didn't go exactly as you would want, but he ran very well. The plan after Ascot was to go straight to the Sussex, but because he'd done so well we thought another run in between could work. If he's well, we'll be looking at that.” The second foal and first black-type winner for the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial H. runner-up Trensa, Hawkbill is a grandson of the GI Ballerina S. winner Serape whose best progeny is the GIII Vinery Matchmaker S., GIII My Charmer H. and GIII Honey Fox H. scorer Batique (by Storm Cat). The next dam is Mochila, who was placed in the GI Ruffian H., GI Beldame S. and GI Ladies H. and is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning champion and leading sire Cozzene. Also from the extended family of the GI Ogden Phipps H. heroine Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow), Trensa has a 2-year-old filly by Hard Spun named Hard Cloth, a yearling colt by Union Rags and a colt foal by Curlin.
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