Cutting his teeth on the Polytrack at two, Hawkbill followed a seven-furlong maiden win at Lingfield in July with an impressive nursery success over that trip at Kempton the following month. Stepping up to a mile to beat the subsequent G3 Craven S. runner Steel of Madrid (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by a head in a conditions race at the latter venue in September, he was under the radar in this early Derby trial but rose to the challenge with ease to upstage some Newmarket talking horses. Moving up to race prominently early, the chestnut was left in front with over two furlongs remaining and quickly put safe distance between him and the well-regarded but green pair of Abdon and Sky Kingdom. Given some flicks with the whip by William Buick, he kept responding to hold that duo at bay and enter the picture for the June 4 G1 Epsom Derby. “Hawkbill has grown up mentally over the winter. We took him to Dubai and a lot of the horses who were out there over the winter have come back here and run really well,” Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager John Ferguson said. “I was delighted with the way he really stayed today and it looks like he will get further. I will talk to H H Sheikh Mohammed regarding options, but we have big races like the Investec Derby and the French Derby [G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 5] next month. We could think about another trial beforehand. The [G2] Dante S. at York [May 12] might come a bit early and he could go for a race like the [May 20] Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood. Charlie [Appleby] will get him home and we will think about it. It was a pleasing performance today, because I inethink it was a fair race.” Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
HAVANA GOLD NEWMARKET S.-Listed, £40,000, NEW, 4-30, 3yo, c/g, 10fT, 2:04.82, g/s.
1–#HAWKBILL, 126, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Trensa (GSP-US, $170,470), by Giant's Causeway. ($350,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Godolphin; B-Helen K Groves Revocable Trust (KY); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, $52,232.[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”]2–Abdon (GB), 126, c, 3, Cacique (Ire)–Kinnaird (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire). (175,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing. £8,600.
3–Sky Kingdom (Ire), 126, c, 3, Montjeu (Ire)–We Can Say It Now (Aus), by Starcraft (NZ). O-Paul Makin. £4,304.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1HF. Odds: 14.00, 4.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Speed Company (Ire), Beaverbrook (GB), Tathqeef, Percy Street (GB), Cymric.
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