Hawk Mountain gives Whelan and O'Brien on the highest of highs at Doncaster
CLIMBING UP: Hawk Mountain, ridden by Ronan Whelan (left), on their way to winning the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. Pic: Danny Lawson/PA Wire.
Ronan Whelan confessed his career was at a "crossroads" before he linked up with Aidan O'Brien this season - but he hopes victory on Hawk Mountain in the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster could help cement his place at Ballydoyle.
Whelan, champion apprentice in Ireland in 2012, is 32 now and was ticking along nicely with a few Group Ones, the highlight being A Case Of You's success in the Prix de l'Abbaye in 2021.
As stable jockey for Mick Halford and latterly when Halford joined forces with Tracey Collins, he was guaranteed a steady stream of winners. But then Halford retired and Whelan needed to start from scratch.
He aimed high, made a connection with O'Brien and has been rewarded with two Group One winners, Precise in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and now the new Derby favourite in Hawk Mountain, a horse he rode to win the Beresford Stakes previously.
"It's huge to have kept the ride. This is my first year riding for Aidan," said Whelan. "My main boss last year, Michael Halford, retired and I'd had a couple of winners for Aidan so I'd made the connection a bit.
"There's no better place to be. I was at a crossroads, but I'd made that connection and there's no better place to be.
"When you go down (to Ballydoyle) at the start of the year, you dream about this - but you don't think it's going to happen. You think it's a possibility, but this is my second Group One in my first year.
"He's a great guy to ride for and it really is a team effort, everyone is plugging for each other. I'm very lucky the way things have worked out. It's my fifth Group One so I've been lucky enough to have some good days. I'm older than I look, I'm 32 now!"
Looking back on the race, Whelan admitted knowing his mount was a huge plus.
"He travelled like a nice horse through the race," he said. "For a few strides when Wayne (Lordan, on Action) came beside me I hit a bit of a flat spot, but that's all it was. Once I got going again I always felt like I was winning. It was just a matter of keeping him together. He felt like he was still a bit green and I felt there was plenty left in him.
"I think it was a help I'd ridden in the Beresford because he had a very good look around in that and he baulked a bit at the winning line. I was happy enough to have a horse come alongside me today and help me along, I wasn't in a rush to kick him too soon and end up a furlong out on my own."
The Wootton Bassett colt led home a one-two-three for Ballydoyle, getting the better of a duel with Action through the final furlong to triumph by half a length and assume ante-post favouritism for next year's Derby.
Benvenuto Cellini was the 7-4 market leader in the hands of Christophe Soumillon for the final Group One of the season in Britain, but having momentarily loomed large he could not go with his stablemates in the closing stages.
O'Brien said of the 18-5 winner, who was providing him with his 23rd Group or Grade One winner of the season: "He's gets a mile well, he's tough and he's classy, a beautiful horse.
"His big, he's strong and he's got an unbelievable mind, he's got everything you need, very straightforward to do everything with and you couldn't be happier with him.
"He's uncomplicated, he's powerful and does just what you want but we can't win these races without the team at home, it's such a big team effort I can't tell you.
"Next year you could get away with him being a miler but you could go up to middle distances with him.
"I'd say there's a lot more to come from him because his mind is so good. He's big but he's athletic, he's not too long, he's unusual really. He's so chilled."
Hawk Mountain's dam is Hydrangea, a dual Group One winner for O'Brien and from a famous Coolmore family.
"It's great for the lads as he's a home bred, top and bottom we've had generations of his pedigree," said O'Brien.
"A lot of thought goes into it from a big team of people and I'm so delighted for everybody, so many people are involved even before he's born. It costs a lot and we're just so grateful that these horses stay in Ireland."
Regarding the placed horses, O'Brien is looking forward to next year with those too.
"Benvenuto is a very good mover and while his dam (Newspaperofrecord) went in soft ground, Christophe said he just got stuck in it, he wasn't beaten very far, it was still a very good run," said O'Brien.
"We thought Action would handle the ground and that the winner could but the only way to find out is to run them."
He went on: "Hawk Mountain is a Classic horse who could start off over a mile, Action looks more a Derby type, we went that way with Delacroix last year when we probably shouldn't have. Action is Lambourn's brother and he stuck on really well."
For Whelan it was a fifth Group One winner but his association with O'Brien is growing.
"It's a big day for Ronan and I'm delighted for him. He's a very good rider, he's been around a long time now (riding for Mick Halford) and he's very experienced," said O'Brien.
"He's a big, strong powerful fella and he's becoming a big part of our team now so I couldn't be happier for him."
