BHB handicapper is impressed with state of Washington
The official assessor described the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt as an “high-class winner” of the Classic and he believes the race was the best renewal since 2000.
“George Washington appears to have run to a mark of at least 121, which is the highest I’ve got recorded in the race since King’s Best ran to 124 in 2000,” he said.
“I don’t think it will be possible to rate George Washington up to the level achieved by King’s Best in the Guineas because, while he’s beaten Sir Percy comprehensively, I don’t think the second has quite run up to his Dewhurst Stakes figure.
“George Washington has the potential to rate a lot higher, and I didn’t really think the race was run to suit him.
“Once he came through to win, however, he quickly established a decent lead and won going away. It was an impressive performance and I’m sure he’s a very good horse, but the ratings of several of those just outside the first three hold the overall win-figure down.
“The likes of Araafa (fourth) and Final Verse (sixth) went into the Guineas rated on the same sort of figure – 106 or 107 – and my final assessment will have to take that into account.
“I’m sure they will be put up a little, but not by an enormous amount, so that demonstrates my thinking on the race as a whole.
“It was obviously a very high-class event but the race-rating itself won’t result in an increase on George Washington’s two-year-old mark of 124.”
