By Tom Frary
If Hawk Mountain wins the Prix du Jockey Club, Aidan O'Brien may look back on his decision to send the son of Wootton Bassett to Chantilly for his prep as the key event.
Errant and lairy at times in front during Monday's nine-furlong G3 Prix de Guiche, last year's Futurity Trophy and Beresford winner kept giving his rivals hope but ultimately was never going to be beaten and hit the line strong with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Lord Clover (Siyouni). Campacite (Zarak) was a head further back in third.
Christophe Soumillon was partnering the son of Hydrangea (Galileo) for the first time and despite his mount not navigating the home turn well, was able to win comfortably on the generously-priced 9-10 favourite. After contacting Aidan O'Brien at The Curragh, the master of Ballydoyle relayed the conversation. “Christophe said he felt like a very good horse, but also felt very green,” he said.
“He's always been that kind of laid-back horse, we had cheekpieces on him today so he wasn't lazy and Christophe was surprised he was so babyish,” he added. “He said he loved him and he had no problem with the quicker ground and that should be a perfect Jockey Club prep for him.”
Hawk Mountain 💜
Aidan O'Brien's charge lands the Group 3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly under Christophe Soumillon… pic.twitter.com/Q7oLGMgGE0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 4, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Hawk Mountain is the fourth foal out of the top-class Hydrangea (Galileo), who had the speed to win the Matron Stakes at a mile and stamina to add the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes to her tally over a mile and a half on testing ground. Her other two runners are Dubawi's Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes winner Wingspan, who was runner-up in the Fillies & Mares, and last year's Listed Tetrarch Stakes winner Officer.
Hydrangea is a full-sister to the fellow Group 1-winning pair The United States and Hermosa, and to Salsa whose daughter of Wootton Bassett, Whirl, captured last year's Nassau and Pretty Polly. Hermosa, who completed the 1,000 Guineas-Irish 1,000 Guineas double, is the dam of Dubawi's G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner and Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College. From the dynasty of Last Tycoon et al, Hydrangea's two-year-old full-brother to Hawk Mountain is named Oklahoma, while she also has a yearling colt by Justify and was bred back to the latter sire in 2026.
Monday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €73,200, Chantilly, 5-4, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:52.02, g/s.
1–HAWK MOUNTAIN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Hydrangea (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & Ire, G1SP-Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Beauty Is Truth (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Zelding (Ire), by Warning (GB)
O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €36,600. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, 5-4-0-0, €256,386. *1/2 to Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Ire, G1SP-Eng; and Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lord Clover (Ire), 128, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Lady Frankel (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€200,000 Ylg '24 ARQAUG). O-Ballylinch Stud, Ecurie Euroling, Le Thenney, Haras de la Morsangliere & Meridian International SAS; B-Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co KG; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €14,640.
3–Campacite (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Wanaway (Fr), by Galiway (GB). (€160,000 Ylg '24 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Friedrider, Gerard Augustin-Normand & Guy Pariente Holding; B-Guy Pariente Holding; T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €10,980.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 2. Odds: 0.90, 4.50, 3.10.
Also Ran: Mr Lope Cen (Ire), Parade Bay (Fr).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
