All Eyes On George

There are undoubtedly many things to look forward to over the course of the next five days at Royal Ascot, but arguably the most intriguing is the return to the track of the mercurial George Washington in the Queen Anne Stakes tomorrow.

A scintillating winner of the 2000 Guineas last season, his campaign was somewhat stop-start after he suffered an injury when beaten on bottomless ground by Araafa in the Irish equivalent.

He had a pipe-opener in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and duly showed he was the best miler around by comprehensively turning the tables on Araafa in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

And even though he could only finish sixth in the Breeders´ Cup Classic over 10 furlongs on his final start, he lost nothing in defeat.

As expected, he was then sent off to what was hoped to be a successful stud career until it was revealed he had a fertility problem.

It is fair to say he tested his trainer Aidan O´Brien to the limit in the past, even refusing to enter the winner´s enclosure after the Guineas at Newmarket, but the Ballydoyle maestro is glad to have him back.

'I think he´s been back about three months, something along those lines, he behaves very well back among the rest, but it was about a month before we introduced him back in to the main string,' said O´Brien.

'He´s good and at the moment we are very happy. So far he hasn´t shown any signs of temperament.

'He was a little bit unsure of himself and his surroundings at two and three, but he seems to have grown out of all that now.

'We hope that is behind him, it is obviously a little trait that is there and he likes to be sure of what he is being asked to do,' he told At The Races.

'He seems to be behaving himself. Hopefully everything goes well on the day and we are looking forward to seeing him run.

'He´s good. We think he has matured, we´ve been very happy with him and he is behaving very well.'

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