George Washington Set for National Stakes

By Mary Schweitzer
A field of seven 2-year-olds is set to go post ward Sunday in the Laing O'Rourke National Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh, led by group I winner George Washington.

The Aidan O'Brien trainee was pronounced fit for the race on Saturday morning after blood tests came back fine.

The Danehill colt won the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) by an impressive eight lengths in August.

Prior to that victory, George Washington won the Railway Stakes (Ire-II) on the Irish Derby (Ire-I) undercard, defeating stablemate Amigoni, who also runs Sunday.

The main competition for the Coolmore colt appears to be the undefeated Heatseeker.

The chestnut son of Giant's Causeway   will be making his third career start, and the first in a stakes race.

However, class runs on both sides of this colt's pedigree, since his dam Rusty Back is a half sister to North American grade I winner Spanish Fern.

The rest of the field that will line up on Sunday consists of Duff, Golden Arrow, Crookhaven, and Hazeymm.