George may get Goodwood run

Aidan O'Brien hopes to use Goodwood's Celebration Mile as a "getting to know you" exercise for George Washington's new jockey ahead of next month's Group One objective, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

With Kieren Fallon banned from riding in Britain, the Ballydoyle trainer is keen for a replacement rider to get to know George Washington before the Ascot feature.

"In an ideal world, if he is going to run in England again, we would like whoever rides him to ride him in a trial first," O'Brien said yesterday. "He is a horse that takes a little knowing. Goodwood would be a good learning process, even though we hope his ability overcomes all the problems."

An alternative route for the brilliant 2,000 Guineas hero, who hasn't been seen since injurying a hip muscle in the Irish Guineas, would be to run in this Sunday's Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown, but that could come just too soon on George Washington's comeback.

No decision has been taken on who will step in for the coveted ride should George Washington go to Goodwood, but O'Brien expects the picture to be clearer after the colt works today.

He also confirmed that Irish Derby hero Dylan Thomas is being aimed at the Juddmonte International at York.

"He is working for the Juddmonte, but has to have three more pieces of work. He is after maturing a lot, and if he cannot go to York, Aussie Rules will run instead, and Dylan Thomas will wait for the Irish Champion."

The champion trainer was out of luck in Chicago on Saturday night where Ace only managed sixth behind The Tin Man in the Arlington Million. But Ivan Denisovich did better in the Grade One Secretariat Stakes, finding only the favourite, Showing Up, too good by a length and a half.