Bow Echo stays perfect in Royal Lodge; Hawk Mountain romps in Beresford

Sep 27, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Trainer Aidan O'Brien pictured at Royal Ascot (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby kicked off on Saturday with scoring races in Great Britain and Ireland, both won by favorites.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum’s homebred Bow Echo extended his record to a perfect 3-for-3 in the Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket. Across the Irish Sea at the Curragh, the Coolmore partners’ Hawk Mountain handed trainer Aidan O’Brien an incredible 22nd win in the Beresford (G2).

Bow Echo and Hawk Mountain each earned 10 points toward the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard. With the tiebreak of non-restricted stakes earnings, Bow Echo ranks just ahead of Hawk Mountain in the standings.

Royal Lodge (G2)

The George Boughey-trained Bow Echo was favored in light of a pair of convincing wins. An impressive maiden winner at Newbury, the bay came right back to add the Ascendant S. at Haydock, and he made it a hat trick here.

Under regular rider Billy Loughnane, Bow Echo settled several lengths off the early pace before launching his rally. Front-running Humidity was trying to lead all the way down the straight mile, but he could not withstand the closing kick of Bow Echo.

Driving to a one-length decision, Bow Echo finished the mile on good-to-firm turf in 1:36.95. The winning payout stateside was $5.40.

Humidity, who picked up five points for holding second, could have the Breeders’ Cup on his radar. The Andrew Balding trainee is under consideration for the Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar.

Action, a half-brother to Epsom and Irish Derby (G1) hero Lambourn, stayed on well for third (three points). Godolphin’s Pacific Avenue wound up fourth (two points). Fifth-placer Daytona, Action’s stablemate from the O’Brien yard, received one point. Tailgunner Joe, Ancient Egypt, and Lord Britain rounded out the order of finish.

Although Bow Echo sits atop the Euro/Mideast leaderboard at the moment, he’s not harboring Kentucky Derby (G1) ambitions. He has a different target for the first Saturday in May – the 2000 Guineas (G1), right back over the same course and distance as the Royal Lodge.

Beresford (G2)

Hawk Mountain likewise has the profile of a European classic contender rather than one eyeing Churchill Downs. Since stepping up to a mile, he has won both of his starts in front-running fashion at the Curragh.

Despite being pestered in the early going by the maiden Shaihaan, Hawk Mountain had plenty in reserve. Once jockey Ronan Whelan asked him to put the race away, he powered 3 1/4 lengths clear. The bay clocked 1:43.36, a reflection of the testing conditions on a turf course labeled yielding-to-soft.

A battle ensued for the placings, with Geryon just heading Al Haarith for second. Shaihaan dropped back to fourth, and Port of Spain, Hawk Mountain’s stablemate, trailed. The second through fifth-place finishers received points on the 5-3-2-1 scale.

Hawk Mountain, who returned $4.20 in the U.S., is now 2-for-3. His only loss was a debut fifth behind Geryon going seven furlongs, but he turned the tables convincingly over the added distance on Saturday.

Hawk Mountain’s upcoming options include the Oct. 25 Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster, also a Euro/Mideast Road race, or a trip to France for one of the Oct. 26 features at Saint-Cloud.