Hawkesbury Has Pavilion Date

Time/Date - 16.05hrs local time/Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Ascot/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Hawkesbury returns from a break in the Group Three Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot, UK, on Wednesday, April 29.

The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old, on his most recent start, powered to a convincing win in a Polytrack conditions race over the same distance at Kempton Park on January 14.

The son of Shamardal was runner-up in a seven-furlong conditions race on turf at Newmarket in October and filled the same spot behind European champion juvenile Belardo in a Newbury Listed contest, also over seven furlongs on grass, in August.

Hawkesbury posted a seven-length success in a seven-furlong Doncaster maiden on turf in June and finished second to Limato on his debut in a Polytrack maiden over a furlong shorter at Kempton Park earlier the same month.

William Buick, who partnered the son of Shamardal three times last season, takes the ride again.

Charlie Appleby commented: "Hawkesbury had a nice confidence boost on his latest start at Kempton and has done well since then. He has definitely matured as a three-year-old and is more settled at home.

"He had the option of running on All-Weather Finals Day but we had a couple of other contenders for that race in Blue Aegean and Portamento and wanted to keep Hawkesbury for the start of the turf campaign.

"This is a starting point for the upcoming season and we want to see how competitive he is over six furlongs on turf before deciding which direction to go with him."

Hawkesbury faces 12 other three-year-olds including unbeaten dual Listed winner Limato, Group Two scorer Beacon and Cheveley Park Stakes fifth Tendu.