Guineas duo set for rematch
George Washington and Araafa are on course for a mouth-watering rematch at Royal Ascot next month after both came out of the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas in good shape.
The latter put in a career-best effort to turn around the form from the English equivalent and hand Aidan O’Brien’s superstar only his second career defeat on ground that rider Kieren Fallon was adamant had blunted his speed.
But O’Brien was in a philosophical mood 24 hours later and far from despondent with his enigmatic charge, who once again displayed his now trademark tendency to play up in the preliminaries.
“I was delighted with George. Forget about winning – he walked out of the race a man,” the Ballydoyle maestro said.
“He has to grow up and face reality but I just want to avoid being confrontational with him and him getting resentful towards me.
“He loves his racing but when he hits the front he tends go left and right. He would have got tired yesterday but that can only have done him good.
“Ideally he wants fast ground but racing on all surfaces will make a man of him.
“I will now look forward to taking him to Royal Ascot, where he will run in the St James’s Palace Stakes.”
The one-mile Group One contest on the opening day of the Royal extravaganza is also the target for the Jeremy Noseda-trained Araafa, who stepped up considerably on his creditable fourth at HQ.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with Araafa’s win but now we’ll put our heads down and work towards Royal Ascot,” the Newmarket handler told www.jeremynoseda.co.uk.
“We are looking forward to a rematch there with George Washington.
“It’s 1-1 and we will lock horns with him again in the St James’s Palace Stakes.”
Meanwhile, Noseda was today flying out to America ahead of Wilko’s tilt at the Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park on Monday.
The Awesome Again colt is drawn five of seven for the prestigious Grade One contest and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
Although Wilko’s last victory came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in October 2004, he produced a really encouraging effort last time out in the Dubai World Cup, finishing third behind Electrocutionist and subsequently promoted to second following runner-up Brass Hat’s disqualification .
Noseda added: “He travelled well and we’ve been happy with him since his arrival in Belmont.
“The only query is: will he be suited by the sharpness of a one-turn mile?
“Against that, I’m hoping that there will be a lot of pace in the race.
“If they go very fast, it might then set up for a ‘closer’ (a horse that comes from off the pace).”
