The £109,150 (US $307,890) Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at 1 1/2 miles for older horses was first run in 1879, named after the 5th Earl of Hardwicke, Master of the Buckhounds from 1874-1879, and is the major local prep for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) which is run in July over the same course and distance. Await the Dawn was the 2-3 favorite in the field of 9 over 8-1 Poet and 9-1 Drunken Sailor. 12-1 Harris Tweed was sent to the front early by jockey Richard Hughes and he was stalked by Poet and 33-1 Kings Gambit while favorite Await the Dawn sat midpack fifth. Harris Tweed stubbornly held onto the lead to mid-stretch, but Await the Dawn came through to take the lead at the 3/16 pole and drew off to win by 3 lengths in 2:38.40 over the soft turf. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to late-running Drunken Sailor third.
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "I’d say he won in spite of the ground. He’s a daisy cutter really and it’s the same old story that we were hoping class would get him through and he’s class. When Ryan rode him at Chester he loved him. Obviously we’re always dreaming of going for the Breeders’ Cup Classic but it’s a long way away. The dream is still alive at the moment."
Jockey Ryan Moore added, "He had form on soft when he was younger but as he’s got bigger and stronger it’s harder for him to pull himself out of the ground. He’s won in spite of it and he’s got a lot of quality. He travelled very well and just done enough.".
