Racing Curragh ReportIt's 12 years since a winner of Europe's first Group One prize of the season for juveniles graduated to classic glory, but the bookmakers were forced into slashing mode after George Washington's spectacular display at the Curragh yesterday.
Suddenly the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt's huge home reputation made a lot of sense as he powered to an eight-length annihilation of the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes opposition.
The runner up was George Washington's 33 to 1 stable companion Amadeus Mozart whose drift off the rail outside the furlong pole allowed Kieren Fallon steer a perfect course to an easy success. But even allowing for that, and the complete misfire of the third favourite Namaya in last, George Washington created a huge impression which forced some bookmakers to go as low as 5 to 1 favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas.
In the process he also resumed O'Brien's domination of the race. A run of six-in-a-row was interrupted by Damson last year and while the likes of One Cool Cat and Johannesburg promised much, only to ultimately flop as three-year-olds, the trainer couldn't disguise his enthusiasm for this latest Phoenix star.
"He has always been very special," beamed O'Brien. "He's an unusual beast in that he is showing so much speed and is bred to be a mile and a quarter horse." To George Washington's credit he clocked a time almost half a second faster than Osterhase's winning figure in the later Phoenix Sprint, but that may be the end of his first year of racing.
"It's possible he could run again this year, but he has had four runs, he flew for the first of them, so he has learned a lot," said O'Brien who added that other star names have to be placed. "Horatio Nelson might go for the Futurity while Ivan Denisovich could go to Deauville (Prix Morny)," he said.
Fallon was also impressed with George Washington and reported: "He felt great and everything went well. It's nice when you don't have to hit them. They're still babies and he is still a big baby."
The O'Brien-Fallon team unearthed another possible classic star as Rumplestiltskin atoned for her York defeat with a comprehensive success in the Group Two Debutante Stakes. Fallon secured a run at the furlong pole and Rumplestiltskin quickened impressively to beat Modeeroch by two lengths.
Paddy Power saw enough to cut the winner to 20 to 1 for next year's 1,000 Guineas and O'Brien said: "You would imagine she will get a mile and we would love to come back here for the Moyglare. She wasn't right at York for some reason."
Tropical Lady made up for her unlucky defeat in last year's Royal Whip with a three-quarter length defeat of the favourite Cairdeas in this season's renewal of the Group Two pot. "Long term we will look at a mile and a half for her in the Prix de Royallieu," said her trainer Jim Bolger who also nominated the Blandford Stakes as a shorter term option.
Osterhase, though, will drop back to five furlongs for his next race after securing a short-head defeat of the favourite Balmont in the Group Three sprint. "Fran (Berry) wants to go to the Nunthorpe at York, but I think I would rather wait for the Prix de l'Abbaye in France," said Osterhase's trainer John Mulhern. "I think he is a better horse fresh."
Osterhase was at his trail-blazing best again yesterday but the runner-up could have been slightly unlucky, having trouble securing a clear run.
Rory Cleary secured a double with Mrs Snaffles and Clara Allen.
