The chances of George Washington taking on Bernardini and America's other top dirt stars in the Breeders' Cup Classic next month looked to significantly increase yesterday with Aidan O'Brien appearing to favour the race for his brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner.
George Washington has been ante-post favourite for the Breeders' Cup Mile since his outstanding QEII victory last month but O'Brien looked set yesterday to point his superstar colt towards the Classic race on dirt over 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs on November 5th instead.
"We haven't finally decided yet but we are leaning towards the Classic with George Washington," admitted the champion trainer whose team for Kentucky also looks set to include last year's St Leger winner Scorpion in the mile and a half turf race.
George Washington is as low as 7 to 1 with some firms to succeed where past Ballydoyle stars such as Hawk Wing, Galileo and Oratorio have failed although Giants Causeway was only just edged out by Tiznow when the Classic was run at Churchill Downs six years ago.
An intended work-out for George Washington on Southwell's all-weather track on Friday had to be cancelled but a substitute gallop at home went well although O'Brien admitted the surface did not provide the sort of kick back George Washington is likely face in the USA.
One horse unlikely to accompany his seniors to America though is Holy Roman Emperor after a gallant runner-up effort to Teofilo in an epic all-Irish finish to Saturday's Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
Teofilo made it 2-0 in his rivalry with Holy Roman Emperor and confirmed his position at the top of the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas and Derby.
The winner's trainer Jim Bolger yesterday reported that Teofilo has emerged in good shape from that titanic struggle at Newmarket and, if ground conditions are suitable, the colt might yet try and secure a third Group One victory of the season in France later this month.
Bolger, who also landed Saturday's Rockfel Stakes with Finsceal Beo, is considering the Group One Criterium International over a mile at Saint-Cloud in 13 days' time for Teofilo. The race has been a significant pointer in recent years with the subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victors, Dalakhani (2002) and Bago (2003) both winning.
O'Brien, however, appeared to rule out a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, a race he memorably won with Johannesburg in 2001, for Holy Roman Emperor.
"It's most likely he won't run again this season," he said yesterday.
"He's had three quickish runs in Group One races so we could put him away."
Other O'Brien trained possibles for the Breeders' Cup include the mile candidates Ad Valorem and Aussie Rules who landed a Grade One prize in America earlier in the month.
The Ballydoyle team's international reach will also extend to Australia next month in the Emirates Melbourne Cup and the topweight Yeats left O'Brien's yard yesterday for the long trip Down Under.
Yeats will be a first Melbourne Cup runner for both O'Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon.
