George Frederick, described by the Times of India as "a bright golden chestnut of great muscular power"[1] was bred by his owner, William Sherard Cartwright a former solicitor and mine-owner.

[6] Ridden by Harry Custance, George Frederick was towards the back of the field in the early stages, before moving up to sixth place at half way as the lead was held by his stable companion Volturno.

[10] George Frederick was moved up to take the lead early in the straight and was never threatened, winning easily by two lengths from Couronne de Fer, with Atlantic a neck further back in third.

He was expected to run in the St Leger and was heavily backed, but rumours of training problems surfaced and Cartwright was forced to prove the colt’s wellbeing by inviting members of the sporting press to view the horse at his stables.

On the morning of the race, it was announced that the colt had suffered a leg injury and would not run, provoking a great deal of "bitter feeling", even though a veterinary certificate was produced to prove the legitimacy of the problem.