Hawk Wing
Encyclopedia
Hawk Wing is a Thoroughbred
racehorse trained by Aidan O'Brien
.
. He was not undefeated at two, however, having earlier finished second in the Railway Stakes
behind a horse named Rock Of Gibraltar
. Hawk Wing's subsequent victories in the National Stakes (in an all age course record time), and the Futurity Stakes
led him to the position of favorite for the following year's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
.
His next run was in the 2002 Epsom Derby
, where his unlucky run in the Guineas was enough to give him the position of market favorite again. He ran a good race, but was found wanting against his stablemate High Chaparral
. The pair were twelve lengths clear of a field including the winners of three major Derby trials. After the Derby, he subsequently dropped back to 10 furlongs and won the prestigious Eclipse Stakes
at Sandown Park. He was beaten a short head by Grandera in a thrilling renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes
at Leopardstown
further prompting some in believing that he wasn't the most genuine of race horses. A runner's up finish as heavy favourite in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
at Ascot
and a disappointing Stateside trip to the Breeders' Cup Classic
further dented his reputation.
at Newbury
, including: Where Or When, who had beaten Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; Olden Times, winner of the Group One Prix Jean Prat
; Domedriver, who had inflicted Rock Of Gibraltar's first defeat in eight Group One races in the Breeders' Cup Mile
; Reel Buddy (priced at 50-1 despite having been placed in the Group One Sussex Stakes
- an indication of the quality of the field); and Celebration Mile
winner Tillerman. Hawk Wing was simply awesome, beating a Group One field by 11 lengths, with second place Where Or When eight lengths clear of Olden Times in third. Timeform
rated him at 136, suggesting that this was the best performance in the world over a mile for nearly ten years.
He would never reproduce this form again, finishing well down the field on next and only subsequent outing.
) have won stakes races.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse trained by Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
.
2001: Two-year-old career
He was the top two-year old of 2001 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, by virtue of a two and a half length win in the National StakesNational Stakes
The National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
. He was not undefeated at two, however, having earlier finished second in the Railway Stakes
Railway Stakes (Ireland)
The Railway Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July....
behind a horse named Rock Of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
Rock of Gibraltar is a Champion racehorse and stallion owned by Coolmore, for whom he currently stands in Ireland and Australia .He is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar on...
. Hawk Wing's subsequent victories in the National Stakes (in an all age course record time), and the Futurity Stakes
Futurity Stakes (Ireland)
The Futurity Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
led him to the position of favorite for the following year's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
.
2002: Three-year-old career
The Guineas was a bizarre race, with two distinct groups forming on either side of the straight track, the faster ground on the far side. Hawk Wing was in the group on the stands side, while the group on the far side, containing Rock Of Gibraltar, was travelling slightly further ahead. Hawk Wing absolutely annihilated his own group, and was rapidly closing in on Rock Of Gibraltar only to find the finishing line came too soon. He lost by a neck.His next run was in the 2002 Epsom Derby
2002 Epsom Derby
The 2002 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 8, 2002. It was the 223rd running of the Derby, and it was won by High Chaparral. The winner was ridden by Johnny Murtagh and trained by Aidan O'Brien...
, where his unlucky run in the Guineas was enough to give him the position of market favorite again. He ran a good race, but was found wanting against his stablemate High Chaparral
High Chaparral
High Chaparral is a racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 2002, and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2002 and 2003 .-2001: Two-year-old season:...
. The pair were twelve lengths clear of a field including the winners of three major Derby trials. After the Derby, he subsequently dropped back to 10 furlongs and won the prestigious Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
at Sandown Park. He was beaten a short head by Grandera in a thrilling renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
at Leopardstown
Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
further prompting some in believing that he wasn't the most genuine of race horses. A runner's up finish as heavy favourite in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
and a disappointing Stateside trip to the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
further dented his reputation.
2003: Four-year-old career
He was kept in training at four years old, when he produced one of the outstanding performances over a mile of recent times. A field of six ran in the 2003 Group One Lockinge StakesLockinge Stakes
The Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
, including: Where Or When, who had beaten Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; Olden Times, winner of the Group One Prix Jean Prat
Prix Jean Prat
The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:...
; Domedriver, who had inflicted Rock Of Gibraltar's first defeat in eight Group One races in the Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
; Reel Buddy (priced at 50-1 despite having been placed in the Group One Sussex Stakes
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
- an indication of the quality of the field); and Celebration Mile
Celebration Mile
The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August....
winner Tillerman. Hawk Wing was simply awesome, beating a Group One field by 11 lengths, with second place Where Or When eight lengths clear of Olden Times in third. Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rated him at 136, suggesting that this was the best performance in the world over a mile for nearly ten years.
He would never reproduce this form again, finishing well down the field on next and only subsequent outing.
Stud career
He retired to Coolmore stud in Ireland. His first crop are 2yos of 2007 and include 11 winners as of the 18th August; his sons Let Us Prey and Feared In Flight have BHA Handicap marks of 98 and 97, respectively. In Australia, his Irish-bred sons Hawk Island (Wyong Cup, Parramatta Cup, and JRA Plate) and Stand To Gain (Sydney CupSydney Cup
The Sydney Cup is an Australian horse race, held for Thoroughbred horses and run over 3200 metres. It is run every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales in April/May...
) have won stakes races.