Hawkbill has earned a place in the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Princess of Wales's Stakes
Godolphin’s Hawkbill has earned a place in the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket.
The Group Two race over the Caulfield Cup distance of 2400 metres guarantees the winner a start in the race in October.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, who sent Scottish out to run second in last year’s Caulfield Cup, Hawkbill led all the way under James Doyle and fought back when challenged by his stablemate, favourite Frontiersman, to win by three-quarters of a length.
“If you let Hawkbill free on the front end he has proven time after time he is a dangerous horse left alone,” Appleby said.
“I said to James don’t be frightened, we are looking forward to seeing what Frontiersman can do but ride your own race and let him lengthen. He gave him a peach of a ride.
“Frontiersman has run a solid race. He has wandered about a bit. He is still a bit inexperienced and hopefully he will get better with racing.
“I don’t think we should run away from taking a look at the King George with Frontiersman. With Hawkbill at the end of the day he is an Eclipse winner and multiple Group winner and I am delighted for him.”
Doyle also won the Group Two July Stakes on Cardsharp at Thursday’s meeting but also received the news he had been suspended for a whip offence from last weekend’s Eclipse Stakes meeting.
He was outed for 15 days, five deferred, from July 21.
