THE acting stewards at the Curragh for the 2005 running of the Group 1 Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes were David Pim, Edward Flannery, Mary Cosgrave and Max Morris. Their services were not needed after George Washington streaked to victory putting a huge amount of daylight between him and Amadeus Mozart in second, with the Coventry Stakes winner Red Clubs back in third.

The Sue Magnier-owned son of Danehill had made headlines as a yearling when he sold for 1,150,000gns at Newmarket. A half-brother to Grandera, he was surprisingly beaten in a maiden at Newmarket on his debut but quickly rectified that reverse when winning at the Curragh before adding the Railway Stakes.