Hawkbill arrives at Woodbine for Northern Dancer

Hawkbill, who is based in England for trainer Charlie Appleby, checked into Woodbine early Tuesday evening for Saturday’s Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes.

The $300,000 Northern Dancer, a 1 ½-mile turf race for three-year-olds and upward, is the major local prep for the Grade 1, $800,000 Pattison Canadian International over the same course and distance here October 15.

“It was a long journey, but the horse traveled brilliantly,” said traveling head lass Sophia Chretien, who accompanied Hawkbill along with exercise rider Wayne Hogg.

Hawkbill, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred colt who campaigns for Godolphin, is proven in Group 1 company and figures to take some beating in the Northern Dancer.

He will be the first starter in Canada for Appleby, who won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in 2013 with Outstrip in his first of two career tries south of the border.

Source: Woodbine Communications