George Washington (Ire)

George Washington (Ire)
Racing Post photo

2003, Danehill - Bordighera, by Alysheba

Breeder: Lael Stables (Ire)

Owner: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Regular Rider: Michael Kinane

Pedigree

George Washington (Ire)
Danehill
Bordighera
Danzig
Razyana
Alysheba
Blue Tip (FR)
Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
His Majesty
Spring Adieu
Alydar
Bel Sheba
Tip Moss (FR)
As Blue

Purchase Info

Consigned to October 2004 Tattersalls yearling sale by Trickledown Stud, agent. Purchased for $2,050,335 by Demi O'Byrne.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
35211$735,718
44002$190,417

At 3: 1– Queen Elizabeth II S. (G1), Stan James Two Thousand Guineas (G1), 2– Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), 3– Totesport Celebration Mile (G2)

At 4: 3– Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1), Coral-Eclipse S. (G1)

Last Start

Third in Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Eng-G1) on Sept. 9 at Longchamp

Contender Status

George Washington (Ire) has been a standout in Europe for several years, earning honors as Europe's champion two-year-old colt in 2005 and champion three-year-old colt last year.

He was the highweighted two-year-old colt on the 2005 Irish Free Handicap and last year he was also the highweighted three-year-old on both the English Free Handicap (7 to 9 1/2 furlongs) and the Irish Free Handicap (7 to 9 1/2 furlongs).

He has Group 1 victories in both England and Ireland, but his lone trip to the United States to run in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) resulted in a disappointing seventh place finish.

There were mitigating circumstances in the Classic as George Washington, who was in good position near the inside for the first mile of the 1 1/4-mile race, went five-wide entering the stretch and was caught in tight quarters between Lawyer Ron and eventual winner Invasor (Arg). After a bumping incident with Lawyer Ron, who faded to ninth, George Washington had nothing left to give.

If O'Brien decides to give his charge another try in the Breeders' Cup, the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on turf, which George Washington races on in Europe, would seem far more logical given last year's disappointing outcome on the dirt in the Classic.

O'Brien had considered running George Washington in the September 29 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-G1) at Ascot, but decided to withdraw him from that race.

"We never said he was a definite runner and the decision not to run him was basically because we are considering other targets for him," O'Brien told the Racing Post.

George Washington was a probable for the Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on October 20, but when Breeders' Cup pre-entries were taken George Washington was cross-entered in the Mile as well as the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).

Recent Works

October 26 - Three furlongs breezing in :40.00 at Monmouth Park, track muddy. Second best of three workouts at the distance.