Oratorio ran in the Phoenix beaten by Damson subsequently ran poorly in the Derby then won the Eclipse. Impressive Phoenix winner George Washington could be well ahead of his contemporaries. Will Ballydoyle be tempted to run him in the Derby if Horatio Nelson fails to make the grade as they did with Oratorio and if so what chance of getting the trip.
This horse is class and is the best two-year-old around. He has the speed for six furlongs, yet we think he wants a mile already - Kieren Fallon, jockey; I was delighted with him. It was slowly run and they only raced for two furlongs. In an ideal world we would have liked them to have gone quicker. He has a lot of speed, but I don't think distance is going to be a problem for him and you would imagine that he would get a mile this year. He's in all the top races and, while we have nothing specific in mind, anything other than a Group 1 would be a step down - Aidan O'Brien, Railway Stakes over 6f ... Hawk Wing unlucky to come up against stablemate High Chapparal when 2l second to him in the Derby. Hawk Wing was 9/4fav the Derby. Not beyond the realms of possibility George Washington could run in the Derby.
remind me how much speed Hawk Wing showed when winning the Lockinge. All a matter of opinion but there is no way George Washington can be discounted for the Derby because he won the Phoenix so easily as Hawk Wing would have albeit less impressively without Guineas winner Rock Of Gibraltar against him. Connections have said he will get 1 mile this year as would be expected of a prospective Derby winner. Interesting season next year with this horse.
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