Hawk Mountain sets up French Derby raid

Hawk Mountain teed himself up for a likely tilt at the French Derby with victory in the Prix de Guiche at Chantilly.

The Wootton Bassett colt won three of his four juvenile starts last season, completing his hat-trick when leading home a Ballydoyle one-two-three in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Following his eleventh hour defection from last month’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket due to drying ground, Hawk Mountain travelled across the Channel for his belated reappearance and he was soon bowling along in front in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

Sporting cheekpieces for the first time, the three-year-old hung left rounding the home turn and also looked a little wayward when coming under pressure, but he was eventually straightened up by Soumillon and only had to be pushed out hands and heels in the last of nine furlongs to win comfortably from Lord Clover.

Speaking at the Curragh, O’Brien said: “I was very happy and Christophe was very happy. He just said he couldn’t believe how babyish he was still.”

Hawk Mountain holds a whole host of big-race entries, ranging from the Irish 2,000 Guineas over a mile to the Betfred Derby at Epsom over a mile and a half, but the 10-furlong Prix du Jockey Club back at Chantilly on May 31 appears to be his preferred option.

“I’m delighted that we sent him to the track if he’s going to go back for the French Derby,” O’Brien added.

“Christophe said he won very snug – he didn’t touch him or anything.”