HAWKBILL, supplemented for the Coral-Eclipse after winning a Group 3 at Royal Ascot, rewarded Godolphin’s initiative by claiming the famous old race at Sandown last Saturday.

In holding Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite The Gurkha by half a length, the 6/1 shot went some way towards fulfilling Sheikh Mohammed’s avowed desire to compete successfully again at Group 1 level in Europe.