GODOLPHIN are bringing both established and rising stars to the 'Welcome to Yorkshire' Ebor Festival, which runs for the next four days at York's Knavesmire.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s racing operation will contest the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes with Hawkbill, winner of the Coral Eclipse. 
The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old has been on a steep upward curve in 2016, progressing from Listed winner to Group 1 hero in just over two months.
His last start saw him land the Coral Eclipse Stakes in thrilling fashion from The Gurkha at Sandown. 
He now faces twelve rivals at York, having been supplemented to the tune of £75,000, for what is likely to be one of the races of the season.
Godolphin racing manager John Ferguson said: “It’s always been Sheikh Mohammed’s plan to run there. After Hawkbill won the Eclipse, which was a huge thrill, we discussed the possibility of a King George. But really, the idea was always to come directly to the Juddmonte.
“The great thing about it is, it’s a mile and a quarter, which we know he loves," he added. "He’s very flexible as far as ground conditions are concerned and, although he is taking on some of the best mile and a quarter horses in Europe, we believe he deserves to be there.
“Charlie is very happy with him. He is a horse that’s maturing mentally all the time. They’ve done a great job with him and I think he will run well.”
Godolphin’s interest in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, the first of ten Group races over the four days, is two-fold with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Bear Valley running along with Best Of Days. 
The improving Bear Valley won a nursery at Goodwood over seven furlongs - the same trip as the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes - while Best Of Days comes into the race after a dazzling six-length maiden success on debut at Sandown.
Ferguson said: “Bear Valley has got bags of experience. He went and won his nursery well at Goodwood. He went up 13lbs for that, so he is a horse that deserves to take his chance. Best Of Days is just starting his career. He won well at Sandown and is a very good looking horse and we believe is one with a future. We’re excited about them both and hopefully they’ll run well.”
Endless Time will represent Godolphin in Thursday’s Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, having been supplemented for the mile and a half contest. She made her seasonal bow last month, winning the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.
Ferguson said: “She is a filly that we’ve taken our time with. She won a Listed race last year and Charlie has been very, very patient – her first race (in 2016) being the Lancashire Oaks on Eclipse day (July 2). We gave her a good break after that, the Yorkshire Oaks was always the idea and we’re delighted that she can take her chance. She’s got good form on soft ground but she’s also got good form on quick ground. So, she’s flexible and she’s very well. Charlie is very pleased with her.”
Ferguson also explained that Godolphin are also likely to be double-handed in in the newly upgraded Group 3 of Friday, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes, staged over seven furlongs. 
He added: “I’d say at the moment that we’ll probably have two runners in the race. Birchwood is a very likely runner. Seven furlongs is his trip and he’s a tough campaigner, so I would think he’ll run. Flash Fire wants the ground quick and Charming Thought probably wants a little bit of ease, so it will depend on the showers, really, as to which one turns up – but they are both in good form.” 
He also indicated that the team will be doubly represented in the £280,000 Betfred Ebor – Europe’s richest Flat handicap on Saturday. John Smith’s Northumberland Plate winner Antiquarium and Oceanographer – recently successful over 10.5 furlongs at Doncaster – are on course for the famous mile-and-three-quarter contest.
Ferguson assessed: “I would suspect what we’ll do is run Antiquarium and Oceanographer. Antiquarium won a Northumberland Plate – he showed a good turn of foot – and he’s training well. Oceanographer won two weeks ago at Doncaster. He settled well that day and I think we’ll see whether he gets the mile-and-six. Antiquarium, we know he gets the trip – Oceanographer, we’re going slightly into unknown territory. But bearing in mind the race is worth a lot of money, I think it’s a risk worth taking.”
On the same card, Blue Point is the likely runner for Godolphin in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack  – the renowned six-furlong, Group 2 test for two-year-olds. Blue Point and the eventual narrow winner, Mehmas, fought out a thriller in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last month.
Ferguson said: “I was delighted with the way they pulled clear of the third. I think Mehmas is a very tough two-year-old with bags of experience. Our fellow, it was the first time he has ever been asked the question because he’d won both of his (previous) races on the bridle so easily. He just became a little bit unbalanced, coming off the bridle for the first time. I think we’ll find he’ll be a lot savvier this time.”
Ferguson is very much looking forward to the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival – always an important four days in the calendar for Godolphin.
He said: “York is a massively important festival. It’s a wonderfully fair racecourse but the great thing about York is the people. It’s a fantastic place to go with enthusiastic racegoers, good prize money, good ground – there’s nothing not to like.”