Racing: Aidan O'Brien was in bullish mood as he assessed his chances of Breeders' Cup success for both Dylan Thomas and George Washington at Monmouth Park.
Arc winner Dylan Thomas will go off favourite in Saturday's $3million Turf over a mile and a half while George Washington, another four-year-old son of Danehill, returns to the dirt for the $5million Classic over a mile and a quarter, a year since finishing sixth in the race at Churchill Downs.
History is against Dylan Thomas with no Arc winner going on to find Breeders' Cup success less than a month after triumphing at Longchamp, but O'Brien saw no reason why that record should stand any longer.
"It's something you have to think about but he is a very unusual horse," O'Brien said. "He's an amazing horse really. Every race he's bounced out of better than when he went into it and he seems to be in great form.
"He's one of those really special Danehills, he just keeps getting stronger and stronger physically and mentally. He's been doing that since he was two, come forward all the time.
"We've never had a horse like this fellow. He's run in Group Ones every month this (season) and he's been beaten in three and in my own mind I could have seen reasons why he could have won those three, so that's a very special horse.
"With each month and week he's come forward and forward and forward and he's turned into the ultra professional. But physically he's improving as well and mentally.
"He's got a big back end on him now, he's a big powerhouse now. We don't know what's going to happen until he runs but I think we're very happy with where we are now at this stage."
O'Brien will give his string of five Breeders' Cup entries their first look at the tight Monmouth Park turf oval on Friday morning.
Achill Island, who goes in Friday night's $1million Juvenile Turf, Filly And Mare Turf entry All My Loving, Mile hope Excellent Art, Dylan Thomas and George Washington all cleared quarantine on Wednesday night but the Ballydoyle handler chose to keep them in on Thursday.
O'Brien was just as confident about 'Gorgeous George' in the Classic as he was Dylan Thomas, despite the Irish raider going into the gate alongside American dirt specialists such as ante-post favourite Lawyer Ron, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and Preakness victor Curlin.
He said: "George is a great horse for us now because we're not under any pressure with him. He went to stud and everyone knows he wasn't a success but he'll be tried again and we're not under any pressure. We can explore and we were delighted with his run in the Classic last year.
"Mick (Kinane) was very happy that if he hadn't have been knocked off balance in the straight he might have been placed and that would have been a massive run.
"We feel that last year he was a little bit washed out as three-year-old. We had danced a lot of beats with him and his coat had gone this time last year. So he was looking a little bit washed out and he was entitled to be.
"This year he's had a very easy time and he might be better in himself. He's tighter in his coat and he seems better, but time will tell. I think it's going to be a fast race and horses are probably going to follow the pace and I would imagine Mick might follow them.
"We'll be delighted if he runs well."
Bookmakers Coral were certainly impressed by O'Brien's update,
immediately cutting George Washington from 10-1 to 8-1.
PA