Charlie Appleby’s 6-1 shot Hawkbill sealed a sixth successive win to beat favourite The Gurkha in the Group One Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.
William Buick
In his final race before a 30-day ban, jockey William Buick held off Ryan Moore on the soft ground to win for the Godolphin stable by half a length.
Moore’s 4-6 favourite, winner of the French 2,000 Guineas, could not find the edge in his step up to 10 furlongs.
Time Test was a further length and three quarters back in third.
Buick said: “It’s massive to win this race, we’ll let the dust settle but he is a very good horse and the future is bright.
“His demeanour has changed a lot this year – with every run he has grown up, mentally and physically. I’m a little bit speechless to be honest with you, it means a lot.”
It was a fifth Eclipse victory for Godolphin, their first since 2004, and racing manager and chief executive John Ferguson said: “These are huge events to win, for Godolphin and any other owners. He’s a horse that has improved and the sky is the limit for him.
“I think it’s going to be a really enjoyable time now thinking where to go. There’s no hurry and the horse has a great future in front of him.”
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