George Washington Heads Strong Stan James 2000 Guineas Entry

George Washington, last season´s champion two-year-old, heads a healthy 78-strong entry for the 2006 Stan James 2000 Guineas, worth a record #330,000 and run on Saturday, May 6.

There are 21 possible Irish contenders alongside one each from France and the USA.

George Washington ended last season with a rating of 124 after impressively landing the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes at The Curragh, two Group Ones, and is one of 17 colts entered by Irish supremo Aidan O´Brien, who was successful last year with Footstepsinthesand and was also victorious in the Stan James 1000 Guineas with Virginia Waters.

Horatio Nelson, victorious in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October before running second in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket nearly two weeks later, could also line up for the Classic on the NatWest Rowley Mile.

The Ballydoyle entry also includes Group Two TNT July Stakes victor Ivan Denisovich, Group Three scorers Hurricane Cat, Frost Giant and Aussie Rules, Listed winner Art Museum, and Pescatorio, an unraced Storm Cat half-brother to Balanchine.

The Marcus Tregoning-trained Sir Percy heads the home defence after four wins from as many starts last term. The Mark Of Esteem colt defeated Horatio Nelson by a neck in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes, a race in which he also held fellow Stan James 2000 Guineas entries Opera Cape, Red Clubs, Palace Episode, Humungous and Close To You.

Godolphin´s trainer Saeed bin Suroor includes end-of season purchases Opera Cape and Group One Racing Post Trophy first and second, Palace Episode and Winged Cupid, in his 13-strong entry, alongside impressive Newbury maiden winner With Interest, as well as Narvik, True Cause and Ashaawes.

Sir Michael Stoute is seeking his sixth Stan James 2000 Guineas victory and has three engaged. City Of Troy won his first two starts before running fourth to Leo in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes, while Final Verse was second in the Stan James Horris Hill Stakes and Galactic Star is still a maiden after one outing.

Mark Johnston´s useful quartet consists of Listed scorer Nakheel, the Group Three 32Red.com Sirenia Stakes victor Prince Of Light, Atlantic Waves and Black Charmer.

Kevin Ryan has entered his Group One Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes victor Amadeus Wolf, while Richard Hannon could bid for a fourth Stan James 2000 Guineas success with Arminius and Asset, and Dermot Weld could send National Stakes runner-up Golden Arrow.

The French entry is the Nicolas Clement-trained Stormy River who was last seen when second to Carlotamix in the Group One Criterium International at Saint Cloud in October.

Act Of God, a maiden currently, could bid to give American trainer Fred Seitz, owner of Brookdale Farm in Kentucky, a historic success.

Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course for Newmarket Racecourses, commented: 'Trainer Aidan O´Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon came out on top in both Guineas last year and they must have a good chance of making history by doing so again, with a particularly strong hand in the Stan James 2000 Guineas thanks to George Washington and Horatio Nelson, while they have Rumplestiltskin in the Stan James 1000 Guineas.

'The level and quality of entries for both Classics on the NatWest Rowley Mile are excellent and we are looking forward with great anticipation to the Stan James Guineas Festival on May 6 & 7.' Latest sponsor´s prices for the Stan James 2000 Guineas: 3/1 George Washington, 6/1 Horatio Nelson, 7/1 Sir Percy, 12/1 Amadeus Wolf, 14/1 Art Museum, 22/1 Prescatorio, 25/1 bar