Frontiersman & Hawkbill second & third in Coronation Cup

Frontiersman announced himself as a top middle-distance prospect with a fine staying-on second in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs, UK, on Friday, June 2. 

Hawkbill also ran an excellent race in the historic 12-furlong contest to take third as the Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-olds filled the places behind all-the-way winner Highland Reel. 

Frontiersman (James Doyle), supplemented six days ago for the Coronation Cup after readily winning a Newmarket handicap on May 7, was held up in second last of the 10 runners as Hawkbill (William Buick) and Prize Money (Saeed bin Suroor/Olivier Peslier) disputed second early on. 

Hawkbill, successful in the G1 Eclipse Stakes last year, moved up to go a clear second and pressed Highland Reel strongly for the lead approaching the two-furlong pole. 

The front two duelled for the advantage until Highland Reel found more over a furlong from home, with Frontiersman running on strongly to take second with just over half a furlong to race. 

Frontiersman continued to bear down on the leader, despite looking uneasy and wandering on the camber, to go down by a length and three quarters to Highland Reel, who prevailed in a fast 2m 33.34s on good ground. 

Hawkbill kept on to finish three and a half lengths behind Frontiersman, with Prize Money fading to finish ninth.

Charlie Appleby was delighted with the performance of Frontiersman and Hawkbill, said: “I’m delighted with the pair of them. Frontiersman finishing second there was a big step-up from his handicap win at Newmarket on his latest start.

“His homework had been so good and he has a pedigree to die for this horse. I’m not saying that makes him a great racehorse but he showed us all the right signs at home and he is a typical Dubawi who is getting better with age.

“We weren’t coming in here confident but we paid the £25,000 supplementary fee for a reason as we thought he deserved to have a crack at it.

“James [Doyle, jockey] thought his inexperience has just caught him out round there. We did ask James to just give him a chance round here as we knew the pace was going to be generous up front. 

“He saw it out well and he galloped it out strongly. We might look at the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot with him as that looks the most logical step forward and he will justifiably deserve to be there in the line-up. All being well, he comes out of this fit and well and we will then head to Royal Ascot.”

“I was delighted with Hawkbill’s run and I’m not going to keep boring people with the same story, but he needs soft ground.

“It wouldn’t worry me coming back in trip either and William [Buick, jockey] said he’s got a gear there but the winner [Highland Reel] is a good horse. William said he went to go and have a battle with the winner and he found again.

“What this horse does do is quicken on soft ground and that catches a few of the others out, he can’t do the same on this ground.”

James Doyle, jockey, said of Frontiersman: “I am really pleased with him, he has run a cracker, though it was all a little bit much for him.

“A step up from handicap company to that. He is pretty good. 

“I think possibly the Hardwicke would be the raced for him at Royal Ascot.”

William Buick commented: “Hawkbill is better with a bit more juice in the ground. He is third in a Coronation Cup so this was a good effort. 

“We had a bit of a battle and I thought we had the run of it. But we were never far away.”