RACING: George Washington's scintillating Group One victory at the Curragh on Sunday has resulted in him being officially rated the best two-year-old seen out in Europe so far this season.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is as low as 5 to 1 favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas after an eight-length defeat of his stable companion Amadeus Mozart in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Stakes.

Afterwards an impressed Kieren Fallon declared George Washington to be the best two-year-old he has ridden and yesterday the Irish handicapper Garry O'Gorman handed the horse a provisional rating of 120 which is high for a juvenile at this stage of the season.

"It's a tentative rating and probably conservative enough. We couldn't go lower. It could well increase based on the future form of those horses who finished behind him, or if the winner comes out again," O'Gorman said.

"It's hard to believe Namaya, Guest Connections and Red Clubs ran to form and the fourth, Ugo Fire, has run third and fourth in Listed races.

"But it is still the best performance in Europe this year - and by some way. For the time of year it is very high. Bago (2003) was a champion on a rating of 121."

Yesterday Aidan O'Brien reported his latest superstar to have emerged unscathed from the race and didn't rule out further racing for the colt this year.

"It's very early to say what we will do. He can do lots of things. It depends on how he is," said the Ballydoyle trainer.

O'Brien's Group One focus will be on the USA on Saturday night when he runs three horses in three top-flight races.

Powerscourt will try and keep this year's Arlington Million after being thrown out of first by the stewards 12 months ago while Grand Central will try and repeat Ciro's 2000 triumph for O'Brien in the Secretariat Stakes. Mona Lisa, who broke her maiden in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork last time, will complete the trio in the Beverly D Stakes.

O'Brien also has the Group One option of sending Ad Valorem to Sunday's Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville but no final decision has been taken on whether the colt will take on France's superstar filly Divine Proportions.

Alternative options for Ad Valorem include the Celebration Mile, over the Goodwood course and distance at which he was third to Proclamation in the Sussex Stakes, and Haydock's Sprint Cup.