DONCASTER - Hawk Mountain led home a one-two-three for trainer Aidan O'Brien, when battling on bravely to land the £200,000 (S$346,000) Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes (1,600m) at Doncaster on Oct 25.
The son of the late Wootton Bassett and out of Group 1 heroine Hydrangea leapt to the top of the Epsom Derby ante-post market, after getting the better of stablemates Action and Benvenuto Cellini.
In a race that looked sure to be dominated by O'Brien, who was saddling three of the five runners, Hawk Mountain made virtually every metre of the running under Ronan Whelan.
To his credit, Action (Wayne Lordan) continued to put up a persistent challenge inside the final furlong, but Whelan galvanised his mount late on and the pair went on to score by half-a-length.
Benvenuto Cellini attempted to make a move towards the far side, but he could not match the finishing kick of the front pair in testing conditions and finished back in third under Christophe Soumillon.
O'Brien, who was landing the contest for a record-extending 12th time, said: "Three lovely horses I'd say. He's a big powerful strong horse and very classy.
"We thought he was a Classic horse next year and we thought he could be a Guineas horse as well as a Derby horse.
"Ronan gave him a lovely ride and Wayne did too. Christophe's horse ran a stormer, he's a very good mover his horse. We're delighted really."
Hawk Mountain is now three from four, having followed up his Curragh maiden success with an impressive victory in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes (1,600m).
"He's a classy horse this fella," added O'Brien. "He gets a mile well. He's a massive, big horse and has an unbelievable mind.
"He's very straightforward and you couldn't be happier with him."
Hawk Mountain has been slashed to 10-1 favouritism from 20s for next year's Epsom Derby.
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