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UPDATE: Date With Destiny won her debut impressively at Newbury, defeating Zanazzi, the Bernardini (TrueNicks,SRO) half sister to Speightstown (TrueNicks,SRO), by nearly two lengths.

Mrs. Julie Wood’s Date With Destiny, the only foal of the ill-fated George Washington, is likely to make her first career start Friday at Newbury in a 7-furlong maiden event for 2-year-old fillies. Date With Destiny is also entered in a similar 6-furlong race at Newmarket on the same day, but is likely for Newbury, according to trainer Richard Hannon.

George Washington (Danehill – Bordighera, by Alysheba) was a European champion at two and three before retiring to Coolmore Stud in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. A month into the breeding season, however, fertility problems prompted George Washington’s return to training, and the stallion was replaced at stud by 3-year-old Danehill colt Holy Roman Emperor, who had been among the favorites for the English 2,000 Guineas (gr. I).

George Washington was competitive in three group I races during the 2007 season, but sadly broke down in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

The group-producing Rainbow Quest mare Flawlessly, who had been one of six mares to scan in foal to the sub-fertile George Washington, was indeed the only mare to produce a live foal – the bay filly that eventually sold at the 2008 Goffs November Foal Sale for 280,000 Euros, and at the 2009 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 320,000 Guineas.

Bred in Ireland by Azienda Agricola Loreto Luciani, Date With Destiny represents the successful Danehill/Rainbow Quest cross (TrueNicks A) that has produced Epsom Derby (gr. I) winner North Light (IRE) (TrueNicks,SRO). Click on the thumbnail below for the full-size TrueNicks report.

Filed under: European Racing, Race Previews