LONGINES DUBAI SHEEMA

CLASSIC, GROUP 1

DESPITE getting his front legs tangled over the side of his stall prior to the start of the $6 million Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, Godolphin’s Hawkbill broke well and never looked in danger as he strode to a three-length victory over the Sir Michael Stoute runner Poet’s Word, with Cloth Of Gold a neck back in third.

Victory by the Kentucky-bred son of Kitten’s Joy in the 12-furlong event was especially pleasing for trainer Charlie Appleby, enjoying his second win on Dubai World Cup night. “You couldn’t have designed it any better,” Appleby said. “William [Buick] gave him a tremendous ride, as he always does.

“It’s all about the horses, His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] having winners. I’m going home saying the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival has been very successful. I always wanted to get the horse’s head in front in another Group 1 race - he’s cemented that after his racing days he’ll be a very successful stallion.

“Going into it we were hopeful he’d run well and we’ll look at a race in Hong Kong at the end of May. We’ll let the horse decide,” he added.

“He put it all together,” jockey William Buick said of Hawkbill. “When he has an uncontested lead, he is a dangerous horse. I thought if he had things his own way, he would be a tough nut to crack. He put in a brilliant performance. He’s got some turn of foot.”

Buick added: “Thank God Charlie and James won [Jungle Cat earlier] and obviously now with Hawkbill, you can sum it up as a good night. There were a couple of scary moments before the start but he got himself together and put his race head on.” Hawkbill completed the race, run over a course rated good, in two minutes 29.45 seconds. The third-placed Cloth Of Stars was followed across the finish line by Japan’s champion Rey De Oro.

Sir Michael Stoute was proud of the runner-up, Poet’s World. “I said beforehand that you had to put a line through his last run in Hong Kong. He’s very consistent and has run some big races in Group 1 races, and he’s a lovely horse to be around. He goes on any ground and he’s versatile in that he seems to be as effective at 10 furlongs or 12. I expected him to run well tonight and he did not let us down.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Idaho was eighth of the 10 runners.