George Washington (horse)
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| George Washington | ||
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| Sire: | Danehill | |
| Dam: | Bordighera | |
| Damsire: | Alysheba | |
| Sex: | Stallion | |
| Foaled: | 2003 | |
| Country: | USA | |
| Colour: | Bay | |
| Breeder: | Roy and Gretchen Jackson | |
| Owner: | Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith | |
| Trainer: | Aidan O'Brien | |
| Record: | 10: 6-1-2 | |
| Earnings: | $1,124,820 | |
| Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards | ||
| Major Racing Wins | ||
| Railway Stakes (2005) Phoenix Stakes (2005) National Stakes (2005) 2000 Guineas (2006) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2006) |
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| Racing Awards | ||
| European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (2005) European Champion Three-Year-Old Colt (2006) |
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Infobox last updated on: November 16, 2006. |
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George Washington is a racehorse foaled on March 1, 2003 at Coolmore Stud by champion sire Danehill out of Bordighera, also the dam of the high class colt Grandera. Bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson of West Grove, Pennsylvania who own and bred the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, and who also own the Barclay Tagg trained Showing Up, George Washington is trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien.
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[edit] Two-year-old career
George Washington's debut was in a maiden race during the 2,000 Guineas meeting at Newmarket on May 1, 2005. This ended in defeat, finishing third behind League Champion over 5 furlongs.
Victory followed in his second race at the Curragh three weeks later, this time over 6 furlongs. Another win came in the Group II Railway Stakes, again over 6 furlongs at the Curragh.
The Group I Phoenix Stakes was next on the agenda, and George Washington won by 8 lengths from his stablemate Amadeus Mozart, despite having been slightly hampered at the start.
His final race as a two-year-old was in the National Stakes in September, another Group 1, and although victorious he failed to impress many, winning by just 2 lengths as a long odds-on favourite. Although he was declared to run in the Dewhurst Stakes the following month, he was withdrawn just minutes before the race after the ground was deemed unsuitable.
For his performances, George Washington was voted the 2005 Cartier Award for Two-Year-Old European Champion Colt.
[edit] Three-year-old career
His first target as a three-year-old was the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, which was to be his first outing of the season. Aidan O'Brien was attempting to win the race for a fourth time, having previously won with King of Kings in 1998, Rock of Gibraltar in 2002, and Footstepsinthesand in 2005. "George" started as 6/4 favourite and won the race impressively, beating subsequent Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy by 2½ lengths.
Breakdown of 2000 Guineas runners since the race
| Placing | Name | Subsequent Race(s) and placing | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Sir Percy | 1st in The Epsom Derby | Epsom Downs | 1 mile 4 furlongs |
| 4th | Araafa | 1st in St. James's Palace Stakes, Irish 2000 Guineas, and 2nd in QE2 | Various | 1 mile |
| 6th | Final Verse | 1st in Listed race and injured since | Goodwood | 1 mile |
| 7th | Amadeus Wolf | 5 High placings in 5 Group 1 sprints | Various | 5/6 furlongs |
| 9th | Asset | 2nd in Jersey Stakes | Ascot | 7 furlongs |
| 11th | Killybegs | 2nd in Celebration Mile, 4th in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Goodwood, Ascot | 1 mile |
| 12th | Red Clubs | 5th in Haydock Sprint Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes, 1st in Group 2 Diadem Stakes | Haydock, York, Ascot | 5/6 furlongs |
| 13th | Frost Giant | 1st in Group 3 | The Curragh | 1 mile 2 furlongs |
Disappointment followed in his next race, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, where he finished second, beaten 2 lengths by subsequent dual-Group I winner Araafa, who had been fourth at Newmarket. George's trademark finishing acceleration was blunted by the heavy ground conditions, and following the race it emerged that he had torn his foreleg muscles, accounting for his loss.
Due to the 2000 Guineas form holding up, "George's" rating has been lifted, and his performance in the 2000 Guineas officially remains the 2nd best performance by a 3-year-old this season, beaten only by his stunning win in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
'George's' comeback in the Celebration Mile was a somewhat disappointing one, finishing 3rd behind Caradak and Killybegs, but he missed the break badly under new jockey Michael Kinane, starting some 8 lengths behind the eventual winner Caradak, and finished only 1 length behind him at the finish.
The day before his main seasonal target, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, heavy rain arrived and 14mm of rain fell on Ascot racecourse. He was very easy to back, and his place as favourite seemed somewhat uneasy. However, half an hour before the race, lots of money came in for him to cement his place as favourite, and was sent off at 13/8. Two pacemakers were deployed by Ballydoyle, and an incident occurred during the race between one of them and Frankie Dettori's mount Librettist. "George" was travelling very easily throughout the race, and jockey Michael Kinane didn't even have to ask him a question, scoring easily by a length and a quarter.
[edit] Breeders' Cup Classic
A tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs had been decided upon about 2 weeks before the world famous event. A dominant miler, a victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile would do very little for his stud fee. Despite being by a predominantly-turf sire Danehill, his dam is Bordighera, who also foaled Grandera, a victor of a Group 2 on dirt in Dubai. Mick Kinane was declared to ride, provoking memories of the infamous dropping of the reigns on Giant's Causeway at Churchill Downs in the millenium year.
'George' travelled brilliantly throughout the race, cruising up just behind the leaders before the final turn. He came wide to make his challenge, but was bumped by the eventual winner Invasor and lost momentum. Kinane reported that his stamina simply ran out, but the fact that he travelled so well on dirt will boost his stud fee and also attract support from American breeders.
Despite calls from jockey Mick Kinane and various members of the press for 'George' to stay in training, he has officially been retired now and will stand at Coolmore's Ireland base for a fee of €60,000.
[edit] Racing career
| Date | Race | Track | Location | Distance | Surface | Condition | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2005 | Maiden | Newmarket (Rowley Mile) | Suffolk | 5 furlongs | Turf | Good-Firm | 3rd |
| May 22, 2005 | Maiden | The Curragh | Ireland | 6 furlongs | Turf | Yielding | 1st |
| June 26, 2005 | Group 2 Railway Stakes | The Curragh | Ireland | 6 furlongs | Turf | Good-Firm | 1st |
| August 7, 2005 | Group 1 Phoenix Stakes | The Curragh | Ireland | 6 furlongs | Turf | Good | 1st |
| September 18, 2005 | Group 1 National Stakes | The Curragh | Ireland | 7 furlongs | Turf | Good | 1st |
| May 6, 2006 | Group 1 2,000 Guineas | Newmarket (Rowley Mile) | Suffolk | 1 mile | Turf | Good-Firm | 1st |
| May 27, 2006 | Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas | The Curragh | Ireland | 1 mile | Turf | Heavy | 2nd |
| August 27, 2006 | Group 2 Celebration Mile | Goodwood | West Sussex | 1 mile | Turf | Good | 3rd |
| September 23, 2006 | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Ascot | Berkshire | 1 mile | Turf | Good-Soft | 1st |
| November 4, 2006 | Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | 1 1/4 miles | Dirt | Fast | 6th |
[edit] Pedigree
| Pedigree of George Washington | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sire Danehill 1986 |
Danzig 1977 |
Northern Dancer 1961 |
Nearctic 1954 |
| Natalma 1957 |
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| Pas De Nom 1968 |
Admiral's Voyage 1959 |
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| Petitioner (USA) 1952 |
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| Razyana 1981 |
His Majesty 1968 |
Ribot 1953 |
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| Flower Bowl 1952 |
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| Spring Adieu 1974 |
Buckpasser 1963 |
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| Natalma 1957 |
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| Dam Bordighera 1992 |
Alysheba 1984 |
Alydar 1975 |
Raise A Native 1961 |
| Sweet Tooth 1965 |
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| Bel Sheba 1970 |
Lt. Stevens 1961 |
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| Belthazar 1960 |
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| Blue Tip 1982 |
Tip Moss 1972 |
Luthier 1965 |
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| Top Twig 1967 |
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| As Blue 1970 |
Blue Tom 1964 |
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| As Well 1966 |
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