Appleby hails retiring Hawkbill

Horse Racing
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Trainer Charlie Appleby paid tribute to Hawkbill after it was confirmed the five-year-old has retired from racing.

Hawkbill secured his first win at Lingfield in July 2015 and went on to grace the winner’s circle on another nine occasions.


After losing his maiden tag, the son of Kitten’s Joy won six races in a row, culminating in the Group One Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in 2016.


He added a second top-level success in this year’s Dubai Sheema Classic and was last seen finishing down the field in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in Canada last month.


Nevertheless, Appleby had nothing but positive words to say about his former charge.


He told www.godolphin.

com: ‘He was a wonderful racehorse, who will be remembered for bringing Moulton Paddocks to the international stage.


‘He was an ambassador for Godolphin, who gave everybody connected with him immense pleasure.

He was hugely popular in the yard.

Now, he is set to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.’

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