Breeders' Cup Mile Tips (Churchill Downs - November 4)

George Washington produced a scintillating turn of foot to land the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 23 and is now 7/4 clear favourite with William Hill to prove that he is the world's best miler in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on November 4. 'Gorgeous George' dispelled any conjecture with regard to his temperament and wellbeing in the QEII. Held up off of a strong pace, Mick Kinane, deputising for Kieren Fallon who is suspended from race riding in the UK, rode the son of Danehill with the utmost confidence and his mount responded in emphatic fashion, quickening up decisively when angled out off the rail to readily account for his seven rivals, winning with an enormous amount in hand. Crack American miler Aragorn is 4/1 second favourite for the valuable Grade 1 contest, while English raiders Araafa and Iffraaj are both on 6/1, and the latter's stablemate Librettist, a disappointment in the QEII, is a 10/1 shot. George Washington's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, gave every indication during his post-race interview with the BBC that his stable star will indeed head to Churchill Downs next. Although it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he'll be kept in training next year, one suspects that the Breeders' Cup Mile will be the colt's last race. The three-year-old is owned by the triumvirate of Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor, and they will be extremely keen to ensure that George Washington's career after racing, that as a stallion at their Coolmore empire, is not in any way compromised. Indeed, whatever he earns as a racehorse is a drop in the ocean compared to what he could earn when he stands at stud. This earning potential will be greatly intensified if he prevails in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Hills make the brilliant mare Ouija Board 2/1 market leader to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for the second time. Ed Dunlop's charge won the penultimate renewal of this Grade 1 contest at Lone Star Park, but found Intercontinental too strong last year at Belmont Park. The daughter of Cape Cross has looked better than ever this season and lost no caste in defeat when failing by just a neck to give weight and a beating to Irish Derby hero Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time. She could again face her old enemy, Alexander Goldrun, who is 8/1 for this mile and a quarter event. Europe's top three-year-old filly Alexandrova is 7/2 joint second favourite along with Gorella, who was third in last season's Breeders' Cup Mile, and boasts by far the best claims of the home brigade.