Hawk Mountain has been scratched from Sunday’s German Derby at Hamburg, sharply increasing the prospect of Aidan O’Brien turning the Wootton Bassett colt towards Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The move lands less than 24 hours after Hawk Mountain had been supplemented for the German Classic, having earned a free invitation through his Prix du Jockey Club placing. It now leaves Ballydoyle’s Eclipse hand looking stronger, with Constitution River still heading the market and Hawk Mountain back in the frame for the 10-furlong Group 1.
Racing Post reported that Ladbrokes cut Hawk Mountain to 6-1 from 12-1 after he was taken out of Hamburg.
Sandown Decision Now Looms For O’Brien
O’Brien has kept his options open, with both Hawk Mountain and Constitution River expected to work before final decisions are made. Constitution River remains the obvious Ballydoyle standard-bearer after beating Hawk Mountain by three-quarters of a length at Chantilly, but the withdrawal removes the clean German Derby split that appeared possible earlier in the week.
For Sandown, the practical consequence is clear: Hawk Mountain is no longer merely a back-up name in the Eclipse entries. If Ballydoyle commits him, Saturday’s race gains another Classic-level three-year-old and O’Brien gets a stronger hand in pursuit of a tenth Eclipse win.
