GEORGE WASHINGTON is just 4-1 with Coral for next season’s 2,000 Guineas after an impressive win in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

The 8-13 favourite led a furlong out under Kieren Fallon and sprinted clear to take the group one contest in great style by eight lengths, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his seventh victory in the race. Amadeus Mozart, the early leader and stable companion of the winner, held on for second, 2½ lengths ahead of the Barry Hills-trained Red Clubs.

“He’s always been a special horse and is an unusual beast as he shows so much speed but is bred for a mile,” O’Brien said. “Everything is open to him but he’s now had four runs, so we’ll just see how he is. There’s a possibility that could be it for the season.”

At Deauville, Whipper went one better than his second in last year’s Prix Maurice de Gheest (6f 110yd). Christophe Soumillon settled Robert Collet’s four-year-old at the rear of the field before bringing him through to lead a furlong out then hold off the determined challenge of Goodricke, trained by David Loder. The Tim Easterby-trained Somnus never looked like repeating last year’s victory and was always struggling against the stands’ rails.

“I will have to wait and see if Whipper can run next week in the Marois as I want to make sure he has recovered well from today’s race,” Collet said. Coral cut Whipper to 6-1 for the Prix Jacques le Marois over Deauville’s straight mile.