Hawk Mountain gave Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 12th success in the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
In doing so, the Ronan Whelan-ridden 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."
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."
O'Brien can inch closer to his own record of 28 Group and Grade One wins in a year (set in 2017) at Saint-Cloud tomorrow.
Hawk Mountain took the total to 23 for this year and O'Brien sends a strong team to France with three Group Ones on offer.
While Queenstown looks to face a stiff task in the Prix Royal-Oak, the two-year-olds Puerto Rico and Pierre Bonnard will be all the rage.
Puerto Rico, while always looking a nice horse, has really blossomed since being upped in trip, winning the Champagne Stakes and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend.
He steps up to a mile for the Criterium International, which O’Brien won last year with Twain and in which he also runs Piazza San Marco, New Zealand, Daytona and Port Of Spain.
The Ballydoyle handler is also responsible for Christmas Day, the mount of Tom Marquand, Endorsement and Isaac Newton.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Minnie Hauk is set to lead O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup team at Del Mar.
A triple Group One winner in the summer when she won the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, she just came up short against the boys in Paris when beaten by Daryz.
She lost little in defeat and having bounced out of the race in good form, O’Brien is keen to see her take on the colts and geldings again, with Found in 2015 proving to O’Brien it can be done.
Tarnawa and Enable are other fillies who have come out on top in the race in recent years.
The rest of O’Brien’s party is likely to be made up largely of juveniles, with Precise, True Love, Gstaad and Mission Central all among the pre-entries.
"Minnie Hauk is fine and she’s going to lead the team in the Turf, she’s running in that rather than the Filly & Mare (Turf), that’s the plan," said O’Brien
"That will be interesting and exciting, won’t it, and we’ll see what will happen.
"I think we have eight going over, that’s all we have this year."
Meanwhile, Rosallion has been retired to stand at stud, Richard Hannon has announced.
Hannon described the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned colt as the "horse of a lifetime", winning as he did Group Ones at two and three.
The highlight of his Classic season was his victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last year, which he followed up at Royal Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes.
He came so close to striking at the top level at four, finishing second in the Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin, but success proved elusive. His last run was the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, where he was sixth.
Hannon told Sky Sports Racing: "He’s not staying in training, I’m not sure of the (stud) details yet, that will be Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s decision, but he is officially retired.
"He is the best looking horse I’ve ever worked with, he was the horse of a lifetime. I’d like to find another one. He was an unbelievably talented horse.
"I’m sorry to see him go, but he could be even better at his next job."
