Racing: Hawk Wing hits heights at last

Coral Eclipse Stakes: Ballydoyle's dual Classic runner-up makes no mistake to silence doubters

It was not so much a consolation as a confirmation of class. Hawk Wing, runner-up in both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, finally claimed the Group One prize thought commensurate with his ability as he disposed of his stablemate Sholokhov here yesterday in the 105th renewal of the Eclipse Stakes.

With Hawk Wing's reputation as a runner and a future progenitor at stake, it was a must-win situation for the colt, but supporters of the 8-15 favourite and his connections, the Ballydoyle-Coolmore axis, hardly had more than a stride or two's unease during the ten-furlong contest. Hawk Wing, with Mick Kinane sitting still as a mouse, came into the straight hard on the steel, went up to Sholokhov in a instant when asked and drew two and a half lengths clear up the testing Esher hill.

Perhaps there was no sheer, effortless brilliance, but that may be for the future. Hawk Wing is a horse of presence and grace, one whose action is so light and easy that you would swear that he could canter on eggshells without breaking one. To ask him to move easily on sticky turf like yesterday's is like asking Nureyev to dance on knotholes.

Kinane said: "He hated the tacky surface, but he was travelling on the bridle the whole way round. He had five lengths to make up on Sholokhov two out and he did it in two strides. When I asked him to lengthen away, he did it with a will, but he really dislikes this going. But we haven't seen the best of him yet. Just wait until he gets fast ground. Then you will see an exceptional racehorse."

The Eclipse field was reduced to just five with the overnight withdrawal of No Excuse Needed because of the softened ground and another of the Ballydoyle brigade, Bach, because of a sore foot. Equerry, the Godolphin representative, ran as well as a Group Three winner might have been expected to do in third place, two and a half lengths behind Sholokhov, with former handicapper Imperial Dancer fourth and Indian Creek a disappointing last, a position which he did not yield from the off.

Hawk Wing, as is his wont, was outstanding in the preliminaries. The son of Woodman is a superb specimen, imposing in his physique and the serenity of his dark, liquid gaze. He walked round the pre-parade ring in front of the saddling boxes, waiting for the final attentions of his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, behind Sholokhov, his workmate at home in Co Tipperary. The little Sadler's Wells colt acts as a familiar presence, a security blanket, but is no mean performer – just six days previously he had performed the same duty as pacemaker and companion for Epsom hero High Chaparral in the Irish Derby on the Curragh, likewise finishing second. Some blanket.

The concept of the will to win existing in the equine breast is a moot point, but there is no doubt that some horses show more courage under fire than others. Hawk Wing's ability and class are there for all to see, but his detractors will have it that there is a streak of softness in him, pointing to his defeat by High Chaparral in the Derby. Hawk Wing's ability to grit his teeth was not tested here – he will have worked harder many mornings at Ballydoyle – but Kinane would have none of the insults. "He will fight with the best of them if he has to," he insisted. "He was beaten only by a better stayer at Epsom, not a better fighter."

Hawk Wing is unlikely to be asked to run over a mile and a half again, with the York International, over a few yards further than yesterday's distance, in mid- August his next target.

O'Brien explained: "He's a most unusual horse. We've always been of the mind that we could run him at any distance between six and 12 furlongs. I think this ten is his optimum, and we would not be afraid of a step back to a mile."

O'Brien almost blames himself for the disappointment of Hawk Wing's defeats in the Guineas, by another stablemate, Rock Of Gibraltar, and the Derby. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Triple Crown or Nijinsky at the start of the year," he said, "but he's always worked unbelievable at home, in his action, ability and the way he's put together in his head. I didn't mean to hype him, but when you get a horse that excites you that much in the morning you want to share it."

Hawk Wing was the 44th three-year-old to triumph in the first top-level clash of the generations. He was O'Brien's eighth European Group One winner of the year, which puts the Ballydoyle operation ahead of schedule to surpass last year's record total of 23. He was also the first Guineas and Derby runner-up to succeed in the Eclipse since Buchan in 1919.

That far-distant colt went on to win again the following year, but by next July Hawk Wing is likely to be recovering from the exertions of his first season at Coolmore Stud.

So, Team Ballydoyle may claim the best over a mile, ten furlongs and a mile and a half in, respectively, Rock Of Gibraltar, Hawk Wing and High Chaparral, but the sprint division is still up for grabs. The next Group One clash of the speedsters is Thursday's July Cup at Newmarket, in which the Ballydoyle French 2,000 Guineas winner, Landseer, will take on the four-year-olds Malhub and Danehurst, the first two in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.