George Washington infertile

brockguy · #1 03-10-2007, 12:00 PM

coolmore have replaced him with 3 yo Holy Roman Emperor.. very odd..

from sportinglife

Holy Roman Emperor has been retired to stud at Coolmore to replace George Washington following the discovery that last year's 2000 Guineas hero has fertility problems.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Holy Roman Emperor had been second-favourite for this year's Newmarket Classic behind his old adversary Teofilo.

A statement from Coolmore said: "In the very early stages of George Washington's stud career, his fertility has been questioned. Coolmore today brought in veterinary expert Dr Dixon Varner from the USA to consult on the matter and are awaiting prognosis."

The statement continued: "George Washington has been suspended from covering and Holy Roman Emperor, another dual Group One-winning two-year-old by Danehill and Ballydoyle's leading 2000 Guineas prospect, has been retired to take his place."

Coolmore's Christy Grassick said: "We are fortunate to have a horse of Holy Roman Emperor's calibre to take over in order to facilitate our clients with mares booked to George Washington."

Sightseek · #2 03-10-2007, 12:04 PM

Well as we all know they really needed more stallions.

brockguy · #3 03-10-2007, 12:04 PM

yeah, apparantly, HRE has already "proven" himself... shocking

Pedigree Ann · #4 03-10-2007, 12:06 PM

The big money is in breeding, not in racing. The whole thing is upside down - racing only points out stallion prospects to these folks. When I started going racing, a stud career was something to do after the horse's main work, a racing career. I despise these big-buck breeders with a passion - their world-view has nearly ruined a great sport.

brockguy · #5 03-10-2007, 12:39 PM

more on it from sportinglife..
Holy Roman Emperor clashed twice with Jim Bolger's Teofilo in his two-year-old season, the latest in a titanic battle for the Dewhurst at Newmarket in October.

His four wins included the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and the Grand Criterium at Longchamp.

O'Brien told PA Sport: "The lads and the boss had to try and replace him. We were shell-shocked about it here because Holy Roman Emperor was our best horse.

"He was the horse we were looking forward to for the Guineas and the St James's Palace.

"Paul Shanahan was here at 11.30am and the box came and picked him up at 11.50am. I spoke to the boss in between and the more I tried to persuade him not to retire him, the more he was convinced he had to retire him.

"The boss has his clients there and has to take care of them and obviously they are trying to replace like with like. It's a big shock to everyone here. We are a racing stable and everyone here does there best every day to make it happen.

"We have been very happy with him and we were looking forward to the Guineas. What can I say? It was really out of our hands and there was nothing we could do about it.

"It's a a bit like having a team getting ready for the premiership and your striker's soul being taken away. He was by far our best horse, the others have to make the jump still. He handled all types of ground, he ran in the Dewhurst on soft when we were nearly not going to run him. He got into traffic trouble on soft ground and still only just got beat and looked very unlucky.

""Obviously we were looking forward to going back for the Guineas and we thought he was ready made for the St James's Palace after that. That was made for him.

"It's a sickener, but it's a business decision. The lads have been in business a long time and have a lot of very important clients. He is a Danehill with a super physique, he has everything. With all the mares booked to George they felt they had to pull out all the stops for the people.

"He had speed, he had everything. He was well forward, we were going along lovely. Hopefully, some of the others will improve - we'll keep trying."

Neil Morrice, on-course representative for Stan James, sponsors of the Guineas, said: "The news from Ballydoyle about Holy Roman Emperor is a blow to the hordes who were looking forward to watching him lock horns with Teofilo again as a three-year-old.

"His defection has given the race a red-hot market leader in Teofilo, who is unlikely to meet Dutch Art until Guineas day."

Stan James 2000 Guineas, sponsors bet: 6-4 Teofilo, 7-1 Dutch Art, 12-1 Mount Nelson, 14-1 Strategic Prince, 16-1 Authorized, Eagle Mountain, 20-1 bar.

William Hill: 11-8 Teofilo, 8-1 Dutch Art, 12-1 Strategic Prince, Mount Nelson, 16-1 Authorized, Eagle Mountain, Adagio, 20-1 Duke Of Marmalade, Haatef, 25-1 Truly Royal, 33-1 ba

ddthetide · #6 03-10-2007, 01:40 PM

probably a dumb question but i'll ask. if GW is found to be infertile, would they return him to racing since he is still young?

SniperSB23 · #7 03-10-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddthetide

probably a dumb question but i'll ask. if GW is found to be infertile, would they return him to racing since he is still young?

I just asked the same thing on another forum. They certainly could return him to racing but my guess is they'll send him to their hideaway for embarassments instead with Chekhov and The Green Monkey.

brockguy · #8 03-10-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I just asked the same thing on another forum. They certainly could return him to racing but my guess is they'll send him to their hideaway for embarassments instead with Chekhov and The Green Monkey.

Id hardly call him an embarassment>he is a multiple champ!> hopefully, he'll come back racing either in Europe or in the States... alot more purse money available for him in the States..

randallscott35 · #9 03-10-2007, 02:03 PM

What is the world coming to? One of our founding fathers can't be one?

SniperSB23 · #10 03-10-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brockguy

Id hardly call him an embarassment>he is a multiple champ!> hopefully, he'll come back racing either in Europe or in the States... alot more purse money available for him in the States..

An embarassment in terms of being retired early to stud and being infertile. Not an embarassment in terms of on track accomplishments.

brockguy · #11 03-10-2007, 02:52 PM

someone may correct me,but just read that if he is insured against this, the insurance company would then own him...

Getaway · #12 03-10-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brockguy

someone may correct me,but just read that if he is insured against this, the insurance company would then own him...

Yes, there is fertility insurance..but it doesn't necessarily mean that George had it.

Pedigree Ann · #13 03-10-2007, 05:30 PM

This is getting spooky. George Washington, the person, you know had no children of his own - he raised Martha's from her first marriage, but they had none together. Horatio Nelson, the hero, died in the Battle of Trafalgar, and his equine namesake also died in the midst of battle, breaking down diastrously in the Derby. Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo <cue the bongo drums>

Pawtucket · #14 03-10-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

....They certainly could return him to racing but my guess is they'll send him to their hideaway for embarassments instead with Chekhov and The Green Monkey.

Hmmm. According to the Glasgow Daily Record, "HORSERACING mogul John Magnier is in talks to buy a Scottish firm who make sausage skins, it was rumoured yesterday."

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/money/b...name_page.html

pmayjr · #15 03-10-2007, 06:42 PM

If this expert puts the official stamp on George "Dubya's" infertility, will he be returned to racing?

blackthroatedwind · #16 03-10-2007, 08:01 PM

They retired a newly turned 3YO? What is going on here??????

Merlinsky · #17 03-10-2007, 08:17 PM

Rats. O'Brien's not a happy camper. Imagine if Street Sense or Circular Quay were retired right now sans injury, just because some new acquisition didn't pan out.

I'm actually bummed for the Jacksons because obviously what happened with Barbaro was tragic but they were the breeders of GW right? I know it's an indirect connection to them and much more minor in comparison but you feel bad that another one they've bred doesn't get a real shot as a stallion for whatever reason. Can't win.

Is he even going to be salvaged as a stallion or is this like Cigar? I saw them saying fertility issues not sterile. To me that's more AP Valentine-ish right? Are they going to try to treat him then?

blackthroatedwind · #18 03-10-2007, 08:28 PM

Maybe it's just me but I wonder why so many recent stars have had fertility problems.

brianwspencer · #19 03-10-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

This is getting spooky. George Washington, the person, you know had no children of his own - he raised Martha's from her first marriage, but they had none together. Horatio Nelson, the hero, died in the Battle of Trafalgar, and his equine namesake also died in the midst of battle, breaking down diastrously in the Derby. Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo <cue the bongo drums>

I very much appreciated that you counted your "doo-doos" in that post, I actually simultaneously sang/read them to make sure.

it makes tonight great, it really does. I appreciate little details like that!

Danzig · #20 03-10-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Maybe it's just me but I wonder why so many recent stars have had fertility problems.

'roids.

not sure he'll return to the track, depends as said above on insurance. if there is a policy, then the ins co would own the horse.
it's a shame these two horses are by danehill--if they were by any other stallion, they'd both still be running. but everyone is trying to replace him, and make some bucks off his legend.
here's hoping geo comes back to the track. i'd imagine he will.