Sad weekend for Godolphin in Chicago

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby's international aspirations for Hawkbill remain intact despite the four-year-old's defeat in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten. 

That the German horse Dschingis Secret was able to defeat the G1 Coral-Eclipse and G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes winner at level weights, over a mile and a half, was a surprise to many, but Appleby, with a view to the future, was nevertheless satisfied.

"Beforehand, I thought we would have the measure of the winner, but Hawkbill has run another good race and I see no reason why we shouldn't press ahead to Canada," the trainer said.

The G2 Northern Dancer Stakes and the G1 Canadian International, both run at Woodbine, Toronto, in September and October, respectively, are the races he has selected for the Kitten's Joy colt.

The likelihood of soft ground for the International is an appealing feature to the trainer.

The Godolphin pair Inns Of Court and Thunder Snow were second and third respectively, in a photo finish of short heads and necks in Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, won by Al Wukair, at Deauville.

It was unusual to see a field of only six attracted to this time-honoured mile contest, which has been won by so many outstanding horses over the years.

Whatever the outcome of a wide selection of G1 races, the weekend was tinged with sadness following news that prolific winner Permian had been fatally injured after crossing the line in the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park, Chicago.

Permian had carried the silver colours of Dubai's Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, throughout his racing career, winning six of his 14 starts, including the G2 Dante Stakes at York, as well as G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Mark Johnston paid tribute to this brilliant three-year-old, pointing out the colt had never missed a day through illness since he started cantering as a youngster.

William Buick, who rode Permian, was injured in the fall as the horse was pulling up past the winning line.