Breeders' Beckons For George After QEII Cruise

George Washington is favourite to take glory in the Breeders' Cup Mile on November 4 after returning to his imperious best in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

An enthusiastic crowd gave the 13-8 chance a tremendous ovation after he put Araafa to the sword without coming out of third gear, overturning his defeat by that horse in the Irish Guineas and making his Celebration Mile defeat by Caradak and Killybegs look all wrong.

Those reverses at the Curragh and Goodwood were usurped by a stunning display by George Washington, with Mick Kinane producing him cantering approaching the distance before grabbing Araafa and storming to a length and a quarter victory.

Connections are now firmly fixed on taking the son of Danehill to Churchill Downs, for which he was cut to 7-4 from 4-1 by William Hill, with Stan James going 15-8.

'This horse is unbelievably special,' said victorious trainer Aidan O'Brien as he welcomed Kinane in the winner's circle.

'Mick was very happy all the way, took his time and didn't panic. He rode George like it was a nice piece of work. He's a very brilliant horse ? everybody saw that when he was a two-year-old. It's the class that he has which is amazing.'

Confirming that Louisville is now the target before George Washington almost certainly is retired to stud, the trainer added: 'The Breeders' Cup Mile was always the plan provided all went well today, and now I want to thank everybody who has put in such a huge amount of work to get him where he is.

'Mick learned a lot about him in the Celebration Mile and the horse has grown up into a man.'

Indeed, there was precious little sign of the eccentricities of temperament which displayed itself with the colt earlier in the season.

He settled beautifully off the pace set by River Tiber and Ivan Denisovich and although Araafa looked strong when he hit the front, George Washington was on to him like a hawk and quickly settled the issue.

Kinane said: 'Goodwood was a mess of a race for us. There were a lot of people willing to knock him, but this is an exceptional horse who does everything I want him to.

'I've ridden some good ones, but I've not ridden any better than him. He has got so much pace. He's got a great turn of speed at the end of it.'

The triumph compensated O'Brien for the defeats of Giant's Causeway and Hawk Wing in this race.

Jeremy Noseda was entitled to be pleased with Araafa who was very easy to back but looked back to near his best.

Stan James make him a 6-1 chance for the Breeders' Cup.

Court Masterpiece travelled in his trademark cosy style and picked up well to finish two lengths back in third in what turned out to be his final race in Britain.

He will have two more starts for Ed Dunlop in Japan and Bruce Raymond, racing manager to his owners Gainsborough Stables, said: 'There's a race over seven furlongs in November and one over a mile in December before he retires to one of Sheikh Mohammed's studs out there.

'He picked up well, but they were a tad too good for him on the day.'

Barry Hills may now run fourth home Killybegs in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and the trainer said: 'He's run a career best and if he does run in England it will be at Newmarket in the Champion.'

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: 'We were disappointed with Librettist today. Frankie said that the race did not work out for him.

'We just didn't get the rub of the green and we will now have to go back to the drawing board with him.

'Proclamation just didn't sparkle. He didn't seem to have any finishing kick and was disappointing,' he told www.godolphin.com.

(C) PA Sport