All eyes on Gorgeous George in Queen Anne

THERE are undoubtedly many things to look forward to over the course of the next five days at Royal Ascot, but arguably the most intriguing is the return to the track of the mercurial George Washington in the Queen Anne Stakes today.

A scintillating winner of the 2000 Guineas last season, his campaign was somewhat stop-start after he suffered an injury when beaten on bottomless ground by Araafa in the Irish equivalent.

He had a pipe-opener in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and duly showed he was the best miler around by comprehensively turning the tables on Araafa in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. And even though he could only finish sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic over 10 furlongs on his final start, he lost nothing in defeat.