Bidding to add to Godolphin's steady run of success in 2017, Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) looms large in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Now proven at this mile-and-a-half trip, last year's G1 Eclipse S. winner had a comfortable two-length margin to spare over the 2016 G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) in the G3 John Porter S. at Newbury on May 20 before finishing third to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 2. He returns to this venue for the second time this term, having finished fifth in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Ganay at the start of May.
“Hawkbill has taken his run at Epsom Downs well. We were hoping for a bit more rain, which is still not out of the question according to the forecast, but he goes there in good order,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “We will be going forward with him again. We held him up in the Ganay, when the steady pace didn't suit, but that was his first run of the season and we haven't looked back since. If he can reproduce his performance in the Coronation Cup, he should be a live contender.”
'TDN Rising Star' Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) proved with his strong finish to be second to Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Ganay that he belongs in this category, but His Highness The Aga Khan's son of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) has to come back from a tame effort when last of five in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs at Chantilly on May 28. Trying 12 furlongs for the first time, the Feb. 16 G3 Dubai Millennium S. winner has to prove his stamina. That is not an issue for last year's winner Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) or runner-up Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who were third and fourth, respectively, in the Ganay. Silverwave has subsequently captured the June 4 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, while last year's GI Canadian International hero Erupt comes here off a subsequent break. Alan Cooper, racing manager for Erupt's owner-breeders the Niarchos family, commented, “He's in good form and let's hope he can go one better than last year. The Ganay was his first race back since the Japan Cup and he ran respectably. I think for Sunday he should be very competitive, all things considered.”
Last year's G1 Prix Vermeille scorer Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has taken time to come to herself so far in 2017, finishing sixth behind Armande (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Corrida over 10 1/2 furlongs here on May 23 and fourth in the Grand Prix de Chantilly, where Al Shaqab Racing's Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) was behind in fifth. The latter looked a classic Andre Fabre improver when capturing the 15-furlong G2 Prix Chaudenay at Chantilly in October and was denied a true shot at the prize on his comeback run.
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