The O’Brien family dominates at Chantilly and shines a spotlight on Normandy breeding

Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

The O’Brien family dominates at Chantilly 

and shines a spotlight on Normandy breeding

On Sunday, Chantilly Racecourse witnessed a truly rare event during the 186th running of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1, the highest level of excellence in horse racing): a clean sweep of the podium by a single trainer, Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien, whose three runners took command of the race as soon as they entered the home straight, battling among themselves and finishing well clear of the other thirteen competitors.

The winner was Constitution River. A son of Wootton Bassett, he is trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien but was born and bred in France by Gérard Laboureau (LG Bloodstock) at Haras du Cadran (Pierre Talvard) in the Orne department of Normandy. The runner-up was Hawk Mountain, also by Wootton Bassett, the former Normandy-based stallion who stood at Haras d’Etreham in Calvados before being purchased by Coolmore, the owners of Constitution River. Third place went to Montreal.

To complete the O’Brien family domination, Aidan’s son Donnacha O’Brien trained the fourth-placed finisher, A Boy Named Susie.

The first French-trained horse home was Alam, trained in Chantilly by Mikel Delzangles, who finished fifth.

Precision planning

It is often said that victory is prepared in advance. That was certainly the case for Constitution River’s success. Aidan O’Brien is not a man who leaves anything to chance. When his leading contender drew a very unfavorable starting position on Thursday (stall 15 of 16), he immediately began devising a strategy to overcome the handicap. He instructed jockeys Wayne Lordan and Christophe Soumillon, riders of his other two runners, to force the pace from the outset and take control of the race, allowing Ryan Moore, aboard Constitution River, to slot into the first three after racing wide and alone on the outside of the field.

Thanks to this approach—and to O’Brien’s customary practice of personally walking the track beforehand to identify the best patches of turf—the trainer’s three runners occupied the first three positions throughout the race, dictating a pace that suited them perfectly. Turning into the home straight, after enjoying a clear run around the final bend near the Grandes Écuries, the trio quickened sharply and battled over the final 400 meters, gradually drawing away from the rest of the field in a remarkable stablemate duel.

For a long time, front-runner Montreal refused to yield on the rail, with Wayne Lordan even beginning to believe victory was within reach. Christophe Soumillon, aboard Hawk Mountain, was the first to challenge the leader and briefly thought he might prevail. But Constitution River, charging down the outside, proved simply too strong, leaving the French-based Belgian jockey to settle for second place.

A second Chantilly clean sweep in a major race

This is not the first time Aidan O’Brien has filled the first three places in a major French race at Chantilly. In 2016, when the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was temporarily relocated from Longchamp to Chantilly due to redevelopment work, he saddled Found, Highland Reel, and Order of St George to complete the podium.

Nor was it his first victory in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. He previously won the race with Camille Pissarro last year and St Mark’s Basilica in 2021. Jockey Ryan Moore also recorded his third success in the race, having previously won aboard Camille Pissarro in 2025 and The Grey Gatsby in 2014.

Constitution River started as the race favorite at odds of 3.4/1 despite his difficult draw in stall 15. Since the race was shortened in distance in 2005, no winner had emerged from that stall position—until Sunday.

His winning time of 2:03.52 is the third-fastest in the history of the race, behind Ace Impact (2:02.63 in 2023) and Sottsass (2:02.90 in 2019).

The victory also gave stallion Wootton Bassett his second Qatar Prix du Jockey Club winner, following Camille Pissarro’s success last year.

Constitution River was purchased by the Coolmore partners, with the ticket signed by Michael Vincent Magnier, for €400,000 at the August 2024 Arqana Yearling Sale. He was consigned by Haras du Cadran, where he was born and raised.

Already successful in the race with The Grey Gatsby in 2014, Haras du Cadran, owned by Pierre Talvard, has now become the only commercial breeding operation—as opposed to owner-breeder establishments such as Aga Khan Studs or Wertheimer & Frère—to have produced two winners of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club since the distance change in 2005.

Official result

1st – CONSTITUTION RIVER (Ryan Lee Moore)

2nd – HAWK MOUNTAIN (Christophe Soumillon)

3rd – MONTREAL (Wayne Lordan)

4th – A BOY NAMED SUSIE (Maxime Guyon)

5th – ALAM (Antoine Hamelin)

Time: 2’03’’52. Margins: ¾ length – head – 1¾ lengths – head – short head.

Quotes from the connections

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Constitution River (1st), Hawk Mountain (2nd) and Montreal (3rd)

“First of all, I want to thank everyone who looks after these horses and makes results like this possible. So much work goes into achieving something like this. Ryan Moore gave him an incredible ride.

I knew my three jockeys would talk before the race. They all had a very clear idea of what might happen, but once they’re out there, they have to make their own decisions depending on how the race unfolds.

Ryan had a terrible draw. We thought it would be very difficult because he’s still a baby, still learning. He went to Chester and won very easily, but today was always going to be a completely different scenario on fast ground from such an outside stall.

We had eight very good colts and needed to split them between here and Epsom. It made sense for these three to come here and the other four to go to Epsom. We’re simply very grateful, privileged and delighted for everyone involved.

Constitution River is a big horse and we’ll probably take our time with him. Today was a tough race. He could have a little summer break and come back in the autumn for an Arc trial or something similar. If he comes out of the race particularly well, the Eclipse Stakes are not impossible.

As for Hawk Mountain, Christophe felt that a pair of blinkers would help him. All three horses had been working well and we hoped they would run big races.”

Michael Tabor, co-owner of Constitution River (1st), Hawk Mountain (2nd) and Montreal (3rd)

“Ten years ago, on this very track, our horses finished first, second and third in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It’s incredible how quickly time passes.

To be honest, during the race I was only watching Constitution River and I didn’t even realize we were second, third and fourth. I just kept thinking, ‘My God, he’s in a fantastic position,’ and it was tremendously exciting.”

Ryan Moore, jockey of Constitution River (1st)

“I simply rode the race as it developed. What I knew was that I was riding a very good horse. He makes life easy for you—he does everything effortlessly. He has plenty of speed, he stays well and he has an excellent temperament. When a horse is that straightforward, the draw becomes less important than it otherwise might have been.

He was a little keener than usual today. It was probably the first time in his life that he really took hold of the bit. The pace was genuine and I think every horse had its chance.

The first three were all close to the pace, but the fourth and fifth came from the back of the field.

I think Constitution River could come back to a mile, and I also think he’ll stay a mile and a half, despite all the speed he possesses.”

M. V. Magnier, co-owner of Constitution River (1st), Hawk Mountain (2nd) and Montreal (3rd)

“I want to offer my warmest congratulations to Pierre Talvard. He has supported us for many years and is a good friend. Congratulations as well to his team and everyone at Arqana. It’s wonderful to be able to come to France and buy horses like this at Arqana.”

Donnacha O’Brien, trainer of A Boy Named Susie (4th)

“I’m very pleased with him. It’s a difficult track when you’ve drawn badly. Maxime did exactly what he needed to do and gave the horse every chance.

We didn’t have the smoothest passage, but he produced a huge performance and I’m really delighted. I genuinely think he’s capable of winning a Group 1. He’s a top-class horse and I believe he’ll continue to improve with age.

I’ll give him a little time, make sure he’s well and has recovered from his effort, but we could look at the Eclipse Stakes or something similar. Yes, I think he’s a very good horse.”

Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Alam (5th) and Dolmalan (6th)

“Alam had a very difficult draw in stall 16. He doesn’t yet have the experience to force the issue leaving the gates, but he finished very strongly.

Dolmalan did not break particularly well, according to his jockey Clément Lecœuvre. He had to use up energy to hold his position, which cost him late on, but he ran well too.