Araafa Stuns King George

George Washington laboured in testing ground at the Curragh as Araafa swept to a comprehensive success in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas to give Jeremy Noseda a first major Classic.

The 12-1 shot could only finish fourth to Aidan O'Brien's superstar at Newmarket three weeks ago but with the heavy underfoot conditions playing their part, Noseda's son of Mull Of Kintyre powered home for a two-length success from the Ballydoyle ace.

Rumours had plagued the racecourse right up until George Washington appeared in the parade ring that the five-times winner would miss the race owing to the testing ground, and the 4-7 favourite almost confirmed that view when refusing to leave the parade ring and head out on to the course.

But with O'Brien's tender handling, Kieren Fallon's mount cantered down the start but failed to show his electric turn of foot after the stalls had burst open.

Held-up in the early stages, George Washington was being niggled along some way from home, although to his credit he still boxed on and passed the majority of his rivals under pressure to find only the mud-loving Araafa too strong.

Alan Munro ? famous for winning the Epsom Derby on Generous in 1991 ? always had the winner handy and ploughed through the mud to take the lead over three furlongs out.

Recent Tetrarch winner Decado was seen as the most obvious danger to the market leader having been sent off at 4-1 and he rewarded his followers' faith by finishing a further length back in third, despite having to contend with George Washington hanging into him in the closing stages.

Noseda admitted to having been far from full of confidence pre-race, and said: 'I wasn't confident but we took out chance.

'The ground was in our favour and the way I looked at it was that if George Washington didn't go on it then we would be the one to beat.

'George Washington made a little ground but watching the race again I think we were going away again at the finish and he's a fair and square winner on the day.

'I am thrilled, though. We thought we would give it a go and it has worked out well. My hunch was that he would act on the ground.

'We will probably head to Royal Ascot and have a crack at the St James's Palace Stakes.'

Munro was also far from confident ahead of the first Irish Classic of the season but now holds the colt in high regard, proffering that a mile and a quarter would not be out of the question.

'I came here hopeful but realistically he looked like a place chance. The ground has worked in our favour though, and it is brilliant,' he said.

'He really travels well in the ground and he is a strong horse ? he saw the trip out very well.

'He is now a Classic winner and he can't do any more than that in a year but he has the scope to go further. He feels like a very good miler but would probably get a mile and a quarter, so there are a lot of opportunities for him.

'I must also thank the Horseracing Regulatory Authority as I was supposed to be banned today but they allowed the ban dates to be moved. A misdemeanour at Brighton does not equate to missing a Classic-winning ride.'

But Fallon was also in bullish mood and laid down the gauntlet for a rematch.

He said: 'You always hate to see good horses getting beaten and it's disappointing for everyone but fair play to Aidan as he let him take his chance in this desperate ground.

'We got beaten but no doubt there will be revenge when we get better ground.

'It is probably the worst ground you are ever going to ride on, it's just not ideal for good horses.

'He's a top of the ground horse and everybody has seen what he can do on firm ground and I've yet to come across a horse that can do it on both, they either go on one or the other.

'I thought Decado was the danger so I tracked him but he didn't pick up as he can in those conditions, he just laboured in it.'

? PA Sport