Charlie Appleby feels Hawkbill is in tip-top condition to take on Postponed in next week's Juddmonte International at York.
Hawkbill has enjoyed an excellent season to date, with three wins from as many starts, including in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last time out.
The three-year-old will line up in next Wednesday's showpiece on the Knavesmire and trainer Appleby is impressed with the work he has done in preparation for the big race.
“He went through the gears nicely, and I was pleased with him. It was nice building work,” Appleby told godolphin.com.
“He is the same body weight as he was going into the Eclipse, which is surprising because visually he appears heavier. The scales say he is exactly the same, though.
“I would say that he is strengthening and still maturing physically.”
And the Newmarket handler is convinced that the son of Kitten's Joy will be able to cope with anything the conditions might throw up.
“As for the ground at York, he can handle soft, as we saw at Ascot and Sandown, and if it is sound underfoot, it would not worry him either,” he added.
