44 runners set to start for Godolphin as Royal Ascot opens

Sport360 staff 18:36 19/06/2018
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  • William Buick and Hawkbill after winning the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic during the Dubai World Cup Day at Meydan Racecourse in March

    The pride of Dubai, Godolphin, have a stunning 44 runners in action at Royal Ascot over the next five days including Blue Point, Hawkbill and Wootton.

    We take a look at some of their top prospects at the blue ribbon event where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on hand to present the winners of the St James Palace Stakes.

    HAWKBILL 

    Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby will fit blinkers for the first time to seasoned international campaigner Hawkbill in Wednesday’s G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

    The dual G1 winner has been regularly running over a mile and a half of late, but Appleby believes the drop back in trip — with the addition of the headgear — will see the son of Kitten’s Joy in a good light.

    “Some forget that he won the G1 Eclipse over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old,” the trainer pointed out.

    “He’s a very reliable horse who has been a great campaigner for Godolphin. He has won 10 of his 21 starts and more than £3-million in prizemoney.

    “He is worthy of his place in this high-class field, and dropping back in distance, the blinkers could just give him added focus,” he added.

    Appleby suggested it was best to forget Hawkbill’s last start fifth in the G1 Coronation Cup.

    A field of seven are to face the starter, with the John Gosden-trained Cracksman attempting to register his eighth win from 10 starts.

    PROMISING RUN

    Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor has called on French champion Christophe Soumillon to partner Promising Run, one of two runners for the trainer in Wednesday’s G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

    Saeed and Soumillon memorably combined for a glorious victory with Thunder Snow in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday, 31 March.

    Promising Run won two G2 races in Dubai during the winter and finished a respectable fifth in the G1 Dubai Turf 81 days ago. She has not raced since.

    Saeed said: “She won her first two starts in Dubai before running well against the colts in the G1 Jebel Hatta and the G1 Dubai Turf.

    “She always runs well fresh and we have given her a break in preparation for this race. I have been pleased with her work recently. She looks to be in good condition and we are hoping for a good result,” he added.

    Saeed also sends out Arabian Hope, who also comes into the race fresh. She has not run for 256 days.

    “Arabian Hope looks better physically compared to last year and has been going well at home. This is the right distance for her and I am hoping for a nice run,” the trainer added.

    Arabian Hope, a winner in Turkey last year, is to be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

    Hydrangea and Aljazzi as the major talking horses in this competitive race, though Wilamina won well at Epsom and must also go well.

    BLUE POINT

    Godolphin sprinter Blue Point will be attempting to put two disappointments in the first half of the year behind him when he contests a vintage running of the G1 King’s Stand Stakes on the first day of Royal Ascot.

    The four-year-old was strongly fancied by trainer Charlie Appleby to win the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, Saturday, 31 March, only to be withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice.

    Blue Point then travelled to Hong Kong, where he finished last of nine in a G1 sprint won by local star Ivictory at Sha Tin on Sunday, 29 April.

    The Shamardal colt had tried to take on Hong Kong’s best at their own specialist game, in their own back yard.

    “Hong Kong was disappointing for him,” Appleby said. “And he then had a bad trip back, with the plane hitting turbulence, which was unsettling,” he added.

    “But, he had a nice break when he got back and he has recovered well. I feel he’s turned the corner, and he will appreciate both the step back in trip to five furlongs, and the return to Ascot,” the trainer pointed out.

    This is a vintage running of the King’s Stand, with last year’s winner Lady Aurelia defending her crown and the lightning fast Battaash mounting a strong challenge.

    Tactics will play a part, despite this being a five-furlong dash. With speed on up front all the way, a sprinter who can tuck in behind might be seen to advantage.

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