GODOLPHIN gained a fifth victory in the Coral-Eclipse as Hawkbill struck a blow for the classic generation in the Group 1 feature at Sandown Park.

The three-year-old son of American sire Kitten's Joy, supplemented at a cost of £30,000 and sent off a 6-1 shot, was progressive on the all-weather last year but has improved out of all recognition this season.

And he followed up his Tercentenary Stakes victory at Royal Ascot under William Buick with a gutsy effort to land the near £300,000 first prize, downing 4-6 favourite The Gurkha by half a length after an epic duel in the last two furlongs.

The victory for the Charlie Appleby-trained colt could not have been timed better in Buick's case. He will miss a large part of the summer Flat season after a 30-day ban imposed on him by the Chantilly stewards was upheld by France Galop at an appeal on Wednesday.

He said: "This has come at a very good time - the best-timed winner I have ever had."

Buick was deemed to have played a major role in the interference that led to Armande falling in the Prix de Diane on June 19. The suspension, initially for 15 days, was doubled after the Godolphin rider's "offensive" behaviour towards officials, and it begins on Sunday.

He said: "It is disappointing, but I have put that behind me and we move on. I am sure there is plenty that will keep me busy."

Buick added: "I always knew I had a couple of gears left with my horse and he showed a fighting spirit - this is the track to be doing that, with the uphill finish. He has surprised me. On pedigree, you wouldn't even walk him on soft ground, so it is surprising, but the last two months, he's been unrecognisable.

"He's had a good winter in Dubai, he never ran there but he came back and won at Newmarket, which was a bit of a surprise the way he won like he did. Then he went to Ascot and won very easily. He's come forward for that and won again. Mentally and physically he has grown up so much. I'm a little bit speechless to be honest with you, it means a lot."

Appleby put Hawkbill's sixth straight victory down to maturity. He said: "Full credit to the horse. We put a bit of mileage on him, but shipped him back from Dubai and went to Ascot confident we would run a decent race.

"What he did was there for all to see, but he was awash with sweat beforehand. That is his trait and his biggest challenge has been himself. What I was delighted with after Ascot was how he has strengthened mentally more so than physically and when I saddled him today, he didn't turn a hair. He walked round the paddock and looked as though he had turned from a boy into a man.

"He travelled so supremely well and, if anything, William said he was just playing in the last half a furlong. He is a horse who has gone from strength to strength, I've never had one improve like him, mentally as much as anything. That was his challenge and that's what he has improved so much with."

John Ferguson, Godolphin racing manager and chief executive, said: "These are huge events to win, for Godolphin and any other owners. He's a horse that has improved and 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."