Hawkbill back for another crack at Coronation Cup

Dubai Sheema Classic hero Hawkbill makes his European return in the G1 Coronation Cup over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs, UK, on Friday, 1 June. 

The five-year-old came home third after a sustained duel with the winner Highland Reel in the prestigious contest for older horses last year and went on to finish second in two further G1 races over the same trip – the Grosser Preis Von Berlin in Germany and Canada’s Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. 

Hawkbill made a winning return to action in 2018 at Meydan, UAE, on 4 March, when edging out stable companion Frontiersman in the 12-furlong G2 Dubai City Of Gold, before storming to a three-length success over the same course and distance in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on 31 March. 

The son of Kitten’s Joy, who is trained by Charlie Appleby, has won three of four starts on soft ground, including a game victory in the G1 Eclipse Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Sandown Park in July, 2016. 

Hawkbill, with regular jockey William Buick in the saddle again, takes on five others headed by Europe’s top-rated horse Cracksman, who is going for a third straight G1 win, and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes third Idaho. 

Charlie Appleby commented: “Hawkbill is making his first start in the UK following his Dubai Sheema Classic win and he looks to be in great order at the moment.

“This was always the aim following Dubai World Cup night and his preparation has gone well. 

“Cracksman will be a very tough horse to beat, but Hawkbill is a horse who relishes soft ground, so conditions at Epsom Downs will suit him.

“There appears to be no other front-runner in the race, so hopefully we can get on the lead and dictate the fractions.

“Hawkbill ticks a lot of boxes going into the race and is a hardened campaigner, although we have a fair bit to find with Cracksman on official ratings.”

Elsewhere on Friday’s card at Epsom Downs, Exceed And Excel colt Aurum (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who was third in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket on 19 May, remains at Listed level for the six-runner Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs.