Magna Grecia has won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, giving champion trainer Aidan O’Brien his 10th victory in the race..
It is 21 years since the Irishman first won the colts’ Classic with King Of Kings and he is also the first to train three successive winners with Churchill and Saxon Warrior preceding Magna Grecia.
On Saturday (Sunday AEST) O’Brien fired a formidable twin assault with the previously unbeaten Middle Park winner Ten Sovereigns the well-supported 9-4 favourite under Ryan Moore and Magna Grecia an 11-2 chance in the hands of the trainer’s son Donnacha.
The field split not long after the gates opened and Magna Grecia was one of just three horses to race on the stand side.
It was clear racing inside the final two furlongs (400m) and the trio had a significant advantage over their rivals.
Once asked to fully extend, Magna Grecia rocketed clear to seal a most impressive success over King Of Change.
“I’m delighted,” O’Brien said.
“He is a lovely, straightforward horse and he has done well over the winter. He has got very pacey. He is a strong traveller now and is very uncomplicated.
“We were a little bit worried as he was over there by himself and all the fancied runners were over on the other side. Donnacha gave him a lovely ride, had him in a lovely position and in a lovely rhythm.”
O’Brien confirmed Magna Grecia was likely to stick at a mile for the Irish 2000 Guineas.
