3 minute read

Dual Group One winner flopped at Epsom

Charlie Appleby is optimistic that Hawkbill can show his true colours when dropping back in trip for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot next week.

The five-year-old, who also holds an entry in the Hardwicke Stakes, is being lined up for a a switch back to a mile and a quarter for the first time in more than a year as he bids to returning to winning ways and claim a third Group One success.

After running out an impressive winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, the son of Kitten’s Joy trailed home a well beaten fifth on his first start in Britain since July in the Coronation Cup at Epsom earlier this month.

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.”

The Newmarket handler is leaning towards dropping Blue Point, who finished last on his previous start in Hong Kong, back to five furlongs in the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day of the Royal meeting.

He added: “We are looking towards the King’s Stand and he is another that worked well on Saturday.

“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.”