Hawkbill cruises in Sheema Classic following gate antics

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Hawkbill acted up before the start of the Sheema Classic and nearly was scratched, briefly getting his foot caught up in the starting stalls.

He then put his foot down on nine rivals, winning by three lengths over Poet’s Word after being permitted to race.

Last into the gate following his antics, Hawkbill was first out. And after being examined by the vet when he was backed out, Hawkbill and Buick backed up the pace and put the Sheema field to sleep.

One doesn’t want to say a $6 million race got stolen, but go ahead – Buick committed theft.

"When he has an uncontested lead he is a dangerous horse,” said Buick. “When I looked at the race beforehand I couldn’t see any confirmed front-runners, I sort of did think in the back of my head if he did get things his own way he could be a tough nut to crack.”

First, Hawkbill had to avoid cracking something on the starting gate.

Buick said his mount was restless in his stall, reared up, and briefly had a leg over the front of it. It would’ve been unsurprising to see Hawkbill scratched; what was really surprising was Buick already had gone through a similar situation Saturday night.

Set to ride favored Blue Point for Appleby and Godolphin in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint earlier on the card, Buick found himself mount-less as Blue Point was scratched at the gate with blood reportedly trickling from his nose.

“I wasn’t going to get a second one withdrawn,” Buick said.

While Hawkbill galloped along on the lead, his main rival, Cloth of Stars, pitched a fit. Pulling so hard on the reins his head turned sideways, and fighting jockey Mickael Barzalona for every step, Cloth of Stars raced just behind Hawkbill resenting the restraint placed on him. While Hawbill strolled, Cloth of Stars roiled, and when it came time to kick, the fighting had taken its toll. Hawkbill finished strong as Cloth of Stars just ran along, losing second by a neck to Poet’s Word as Hawkbill came home three lengths to the good. In fourth was the well bet Japanese colt Rey De Oro, whose strong finish was blunted by the slow pace.

Hawkbill captured the 2016 Coral-Eclipse Stakes for his only previous Group 1, but the Sheema was his best win. He ran 2400 meters, about 1 1/2 miles, in 2:29.45 while winning his 10th start from 20 races.

“He’s always been a model of consistency,” said Appleby.

Appleby came into the night winless in World Cup races but came out of it with two, Hawkbill following Jungle Cat, who won the Al Quoz after Blue Point was withdrawn. Appleby said Hawkbill might start next in the Group 1 QEII Cup on April 29 at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

Hawkbill raced in Canada last year, finishing second in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine, and is an American-bred 5-year-old, a son of Kitten’s Joy and Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway. He tried to make it hard on himself in the Sheema, but instead made it hard on his opponents.