Washington To Retire After Breeders' Bid

George Washington will be added to Coolmore's illustrious list of stallions after his appearance in the Breeders' Cup next month, and he will be joined by Hurricane Run, Aussie Rules and Ad Valorem.

The former dominated his age group at two with four successive victories, which included Group One successes in the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes.

He reappeared at Newmarket for the Stan James 2000 Guineas in March and put in a fantastic performance to beat subsequent Vodafone Derby hero Sir Percy by two and a half lengths.

He also won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes against his elders and is currently Timeform's highest-rated horse of any age. He is expected to tackle either the Breeders' Cup Mile or Classic at Churchill Downs on November 4.

'We've been lucky enough to stand a lot of champion stallions over the years,' said Coolmore manager Christy Grassick. 'But I don't think any of them could match George Washington's range of qualifications.'

Also set to join the list of stallions is 2005 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Hurricane Run, trained in France by Andre Fabre.

By Montjeu, the similarities between the two are uncanny having gone unbeaten at two and winning the Irish Derby, Prix Niel and the Arc at three when both earned the title of World Champion.

They both also won the Tattersalls Gold Cup and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at four.

'The parallels between Hurricane Run and Montjeu are there for everyone to see,' said Grassick.

'Consequently, we are very hopeful that Hurricane Run is also going to follow in Montjeu's footsteps as a stallion. He's a magnificent specimen too, with a great look of Montjeu.'

Aussie Rules is another useful addition to the roster being, like George Washington, by the prolific sire Danehill. The three-year-old won the French 2000 Guineas and recently added the Grade One Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland to his CV. He is set to take his chance in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Ad Valorem, a son of Danzig, won all his three starts as a juvenile, including the Group One Middle Park Stakes and was the second highest-rated two-year-old in Europe.

He continued to perform with credit at the highest level as he showed with a gutsy success in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in the summer.

'Having enjoyed such an outstanding time with Danehill, we are naturally delighted to be standing Ad Valorem, another Group One-winning son of Danzig,' said Grassick.

'He's out of a world record-breaking racemare over five and a half furlongs so we'll be very disappointed if Ad Valorem isn't among the leading first-crop sires of 2010.

'As was the case the season Montjeu and Giant's Causeway retired, we have some exceptional new recruits for 2007.

'These are four seriously well-bred horses, by the right sires, from top-class families and all have excelled at the very highest level on the racecourse.'

(C) PA Sport