Terrific G3 success for Hawkbill at Newbury

Hawkbill made almost all of the running to gain a thrilling and decisive victory in the G3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, May 20. 

The four-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, stepped back up to a mile and a half after coming home fifth in the G1 Prix Ganay over an extended 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, France, on May 1, his seasonal debut.

The winner of last year’s G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park over 10 furlongs soon disputed the early running before being sent into the lead after a furlong.  

He travelled strongly turning for home and, after entering the straight, powered steadily and impressively clear of his five rivals and had the race won some way out.

My Dream Boat, also a previous G1 winner, was the only challenger to close the gap but he could never get to grips with Hawkbill who galloped on relentlessly before being eased on the line to come home two lengths ahead in 2m 42.75s on ground officially described as soft, good to soft in places, with the same margin back to Midterm in third. 

John Ferguson, Chief Executive and Racing Manager of Godolphin, said: “It is great to see Hawkbill back to winning ways and hopefully he has a great year ahead of him.

“At Sandown, when he won the Eclipse, he put in a really great performance and Charlie carried on running him to give him experience and get some miles on the clock because he was a relatively mentally immature horse then.

“This year, Hawkbill started out in France and ran OK but he has come here and is a different horse. The ground is important to him and he quickened off the soft going. There are plenty of options for him now.”

Charlie Appleby said: “I am delighted and full credit to the team – Mauritzio who rides him and Shane who looks after him.

“I was confident going into the Prix Ganay but they went a steady pace over 10 furlongs which did not suit us and I knew that stepping him back up to a mile and a half was going to be his game.

“William went out there purposefully into the lead. I said ride Hawkbill with a lot of confidence and just see if the rest of them can stay in this ground. Hawkbill is proven on this ground and has gone and put up a good performance today.

“The French race did not work out but, most importantly, he got a run under his belt and definitely came forward for it. 

“He was sweating in the paddock and I would have been worried if he hadn’t been – that is just him. 

“William rode in a piece of work last week - he sat in behind and tried to join Hawkbill but couldn’t – so he said he knew that the horse was back on his 'A' game. 

“Hawkbill is entered in everything. I am not saying he is ground dependent but he is a better horse with ease in the ground. So we will just have to see what the weather does. He can go over 10 or 12 furlongs as long as he has his ground, which is the key thing.

“Hawkbill is one of the few horses that can actually quicken on soft ground and that is what he has shown today. 

“We know that he got a bit of a soft lead today but, when they came to him, he quickened up the straight and the rest of the field plugged on. If we are going to compete at the top level, there needs to be a bit of ease in the ground.”

William Buick added: “Charlie was very positive about going on, making the running and letting the horse prick his ears in front. 

“Hawkbill has come forward from his run in the Ganay and it has done him the world of good. He goes in the ground and won well. 

“It looked like he stayed well, so we are very happy with his performance. The ground doesn’t have to be as soft as today; he just likes to get his toe in. It’s hard work out there and very soft. 

“He is back on track now. This was his first win since the Eclipse last year, although he has run a lot of good races in between. I would say that he has opened up the mile and a half door for himself and all those top races will be considered.”