Yes I remember. Had a bit of a soft spot for him but can't remember why. I thought maybe it was the pedigree but, having looked at that, there must have been another reason.
I remember that race. I still think George Washington was a tank, regardless of what happened when he came back. On his day not a lot would have troubled him over a mile. The only Guineas winner I've been more impressed by is Frankel. Hard to know wether Ryan Moore made that decision, or he was instructed to run up the other side. Either way it won that horse the race.
I believe Ryan Moore was the only jockey, indeed the only person, to walk the course that day. I say this because I arrived at Sandown about 2 hours before the first race, and saw a solitary figure walk across the parade ring and out on to the course. Aidan O'Brien and his riders walking the course is a common sight on UK and Irish racecourses, but they appear not to have bothered that day. It had rained the night before, but it was a bright sunny day and the other jocks and connections seem to have assumed that the ground would have dried out sufficiently to negate any benefit to coming across to the stands rail. I'm pretty certain it was Ryan Moore's decision to take the stands rail, though he would probably have talked it over with Stoute and the owners first. Anyway, I'm giving him the credit.
Well that decision made them a lot of money, as I doubt he'd of had much appeal as a sire if he didn't have a G1 win on his CV.
