Hawkbill Primed for Royal Ascot

Hawkbill | Racing Post

Godolphin's Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy), a winner of the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. in 2016 and this term's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, is aiming for the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot on June 20. The 5-year-old entire, who also holds an entry in the [G2] Hardwicke S. on June 23, is switching back to a mile and a quarter for the first time in more than a year, as he bids to returning to winning ways after running fifth in the G1 Coronation Cup behind Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Epsom on June 1.

Appleby said, “You know what Hawkbill is like, he can throw a run like that in. We scoped him and he was clean and there was no abnormalities. You can just put a line through that last run. He has come out of the race well and I can't give any negatives for him. He galloped well on Saturday and we were very happy with and all being well we will now head to the Prince Of Wales's.”

Fellow Godolphin runner, MGSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) is also shortening up in trip to five furlongs in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. The colt, second in the G2 Meydan Sprint in February, was unplaced in the 1200-metre G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong on Apr. 29.

“We are looking towards the King's Stand and he is another that worked well on Saturday,” said Appleby. “His run in Hong Kong was disappointing but we were taking those speedballs on in their own patch. He has had a little break since he has come back as he had a bit of turbulence on the flight back so it wasn't the smoothest of journeys for him. We have given him a quiet spell and he has been building back up the last couple of weeks.”

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