By Heather Anderson
Hawk Mountain won the G2 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Beresford Stakes in front-running fashion at The Curragh on Saturday, his first stakes victory and the 52nd group winner for the late Wootton Bassett. The Coolmore partners colourbearer defeated G2 Futurity Stakes runner-up Geryon (Lope De Vega) by 3 1/4 lengths, with that rival just overtaking Al Haarith (Lope De Vega) by a head in the dying strides.
Sent off at 5-4, the son of Group 1 scorer Hydrangea (Galileo) cut out the running against the fence while pressed by Shaihaan (Night Of Thunder). The two were almost on even terms by the midpoint, but Ronan Whelan let Hawk Mountain out a notch and he pinched a half-length edge with 600 metres remaining. Both Geryon and Al Haarith launched bids inside the final 400 metres as Shaihaan faded, but Hawk Mountain had built up an unreachable advantage to win well. It was a 22nd renewal for Aidan O'Brien.
Now quoted at 16-1 by Coral for the Derby, Hawk Mountain may yet be seen again this year with a trip to Doncaster for the G1 Futurity Stakes on October 25 or a voyage to Saint-Cloud in France a day later still on the table.
Chris Armstrong, representing the O'Brien stable, said, “He's a smashing colt. Obviously he's got the sire and the dam and he has plenty of size and scope. Whatever he does at two we think will be a bonus.
“Ronan gave him a lovely ride, he had his ears pricked the whole way around and there is plenty in there. He felt he was still green, even coming up to the line. It's a good sign and hopefully he'll improve again.
“He's in the mix for the Futurity Trophy in Doncaster or maybe he could go to France for the race in Saint-Cloud. He's one to look forward to for middle distances next year.
“Ronan said when he got him organised, he got one crack into him and he really went away. He's a smashing horse to look forward to over the winter.”
Fifth to Geryon when unveiled over seven furlongs locally in August, Hawk Mountain had Port Of Spain (St Mark's Basilica) back in third when breaking his maiden over this course and distance on August 30.
Pedigree Notes
The Coolmore homebred is the 73rd stakes winner for his late sire, who died this week. A half-brother to the Dubawi stakes winners Wingspan–runner-up in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes–and Officer, Hawk Mountain is followed by a yearling full-brother and a weanling half-brother by Justify. G1 Matron Stakes and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Hydrangea, who now has three stakes winners from three to race, was covered by Justify again this spring.
Second dam Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) struck in a pair of French group races and she is also the dam of multiple group winner and two-time Group 1-placed Fire Lily (Dansili), as well as G1 Ranvet Stakes hero and sire The United States and G1 1000 Guineas/G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Hermosa. The latter pair are full-siblings to Hydrangea. Hermosa is the dam of G3 Hampton Court victor and G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College (Dubawi). Dual Group 1 winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett) has further burnished the family's reputation this season and is out of another full-sister to Hydrangea in Salsa.
Mountain Hawk's third dam is the G3 Prix du Bois victrix Zelding (Warning) whose other progeny includes the Listed Prix Finlande winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Glorious Sight (Singspiel). Zelding is kin to the G2 Prix Robert Papin victor and G1 Middle Park Stakes second Zipping (Zafonic) and the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert scorer Nipping (Night Shift) with this also being the family of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero and leading sire Last Tycoon.
A 22nd win in the Beresford for Aidan O'Brien courtesy of Hawk Mountain @curraghrace ⛰️ pic.twitter.com/vQkXBIGbrK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025
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