Date with Destiny: a legacy of George Washington

When George Washington was officially retired to stud at the end of the 2006 Flat season. Many breeders were already booking their high quality mares, so that they could produce the next generation of top class milers. George Washington was an unbeaten Gr1 winning 2yo & classic winning three-year-old. His win in the 2006 2000 Guineas beating subsequent Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy, was among one of the best displays by a young horse in a major European classic. George Washington was beaten in the Irish version due to an injury. But he came back at the end of the season to win the QEII at Ascot. He was then retired to his owners Coolmore stud in the hope that, he could take up the mantle left by his own outstanding sire Danehill. 

George Washington had an outstanding sires pedigree. He was by the all conquering sire Danehill, who was just at the time proving himself as a sire of sires. George Washing was out of the Alysheba mare Bordighera. She herself was stakes placed as a three-year-old. George Washington was also a half brother to the high class Group 1 winner Grandera. 

The 2007 breeding season had begun & the future looked very bright for George Washington, meanwhile Coolmore were nurturing another son of Danehill in HolyromanEmporer for another victory in 2000 guineas. However on the 10thMarch  2007 Coolmore suspended George Washington from covering duties due to severe fertility problems. To accommodate the breeders who had booked mares to George Washington, Coolmore brought in the nearest replacement Group 2 winning & Group 1 placed 2yo HolyromanEmporer. 

George Washington returned to training later that year. It turned out that he did get one mare in foal. That mare was Flawlessly, carrying the only ever George Washington foal. Meanwhile George Washington was under performing on the racecourse, this is often a regular problem with top class horses that return from covering duties. George Washington failed to win a single race that year & was tradigically killed when running in the 2007 Breeders Cup Classic. 

However his legacy has been passed down through Flawlessy filly foal. On the 4th February 2008, the Irish National Stud who boarded Flawlessy announced that she had produced a filly foal. There was much anticipation when it was announced later that year that Tattersells were to sell the only foal in the world by George Washington at their annual Tattersalls December foal sale. The filly boasted a nice pedigree. She was a half sister to the dam of group 3 winner & group 1 placed Best Name. While her half siblings were Group winner Ombre Legure, later dam of Japenese Group winner Germinal. The filly didn't disappoint selling for 320,000gns to Peter & Ross Doyle on behalf of Julie Wood. 

Named Date With Destiny, she was placed in the care of Richard Hannon. Date With Destiny got off to the perfect start winning on her debut at Newbury in July 2010. That proved to be her only win in 7 career starts. But she was stakes placed in the LR Lancashire Oaks. Date With Destiny returned to the Tattersalls ring in December 2011. She sold to John Warren Bld'stk for 185,000gns. 

Date With Destiny is now currently at Newsells Park Stud in England as a broodmare. She currently has a yearling filly by champion sire Galileo and was covered by Group 1 winner Nathaniel this year. Her offspring are eagerly awaited as they will be the only foals ever with George Washington as their dam sire.

Date With Destiny