Almost two years after two-time European champion George Washington was fatally injured in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), his only known foal, a filly out of the Rainbow Quest mare Flawlessly, was bought for 320,000 guineas (approximately $535,000) by Peter Doyle Bloodstock during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale Oct. 7.
“We got a bargain; we thought we’d have to pay more,” said Doyle, whose bloodstock agency is based in County Wicklow, Ireland. “But she just had a great attitude, and a great vet report, and she was just one of those fillies that we liked…we don’t normally spend that sort of money on them.”
Doyle and his son, Ross, bought the filly on behalf of Julie Wood, who also owns Lucky General, winner of the Sept. 27 Goffs Million Sprint at the Curragh Racecourse.
Doyle said the George Washington filly will be sent to the England-based stable of Richard Hannon, who also trains Lucky General.
“(Buying the filly) was a special moment, and Mr. and Mrs. Wood are delighted and are special people too. They’ve had horses with us now for the last six or seven years, and they’ve been very successful.”
When asked if there were any similarities between the George Washington filly and her sire, Doyle said, “She’s very like him (physically), and if she’s inherited some of his genes, that would be great.”
The bay filly, who was born last Feb. 4 at the Irish National Stud, was consigned by Gerry and Patricia Burke's Glidawn Stud. She is a half-sister to the French group III winner Ombre Legere (by Double Bed), who is the dam of 2009 Japanese group III winner Germinal (by Agnes Tachyon).
The George Washington filly also is a half-sister to grade I-placed Flawly (by Old Vic), who is the dam of French group III winner Best Name (by King’s Best).
Azienda Agricola Loreto Luciani bred the filly in Ireland. Gerry Burke purchased her for 280,000 Euros (about $411,000) from the Irish National Stud's consignment at last year's Goffs November foal sale in Ireland. She was the highest-priced weanling sold in Ireland in 2008.
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George Washington | ||
Sired by Danehill, George Washington was a two-time Cartier Award winner before entering stud at John Magnier and partners' Coolmore Stud in Ireland in 2007. He was relieved of stallion duty after experiencing fertility problems and returned to training. Coolmore then retired one of its group I winners, French champion Holy Roman Emperor (also by Danehill), to take the place of George Washington at stud.
Back with trainer Aidan O'Brien, George Washington ran in three group I races leading up to the Classic, running third in two of them and fourth in the other. In the Classic at Monmouth Park, he suffered a fracture of a cannon bone as well as fractured sesamoids.