Hawkbill to miss Ascot meeting

Hawkbill will miss the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with him next likely to feature in the Juddmonte International.

The three-year-old made it six wins in a row earlier this month in the Eclipse at Sandown, a victory that came on the back of his win in the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Connections had suggested that he could return to Ascot for the mile-and-a-half King George on Saturday, where he would have gone up against the likes of Postponed and Highland Reel.

However, Appleby says he has spoken to Hawkbill’s owners, Godolphin, and they have concluded that he will instead stick to 10 furlongs, with next month’s Juddmonte International at York expected to be his next target.

The trainer told the Godolphin website: “After consultation with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and John Ferguson, we have decided he will miss the King George and be saved for races over a mile and a quarter.”