The lasting memory for European racefans of Breeders’ Cup 2007 is inevitably the loss of George Washington in what appeared a river of mud at Monmouth Park. The failure of the overseas team to make the winners’ rostrum in any of the races – the first time since 1998 – will be seen as incidental; but tragedies happen in this raw sport and more often than not to thoroughbreds without the charisma and race-record of Aidan O’Brien’s charge, the one they called Gorgeous George. Whether the images of that night and the loss of such a big name will deter the champion trainer and others from tackling these valuable contests is debatable but on balance unlikely.