Magna Grecia (horse)
Magna Grecia | |
---|---|
2000 Guineas (2019) |
Magna Grecia (foaled 25 February 2016) is an Irish
Background
Magna Grecia is a bay colt with a white
He was sired by the Haydock Sprint Cup winner Invincible Spirit, who has produced many other major winners including Kingman, Charm Spirit, Mayson, Fleeting Spirit, Moonlight Cloud and Lawman.[3] Magna Grecia's dam Cabaret, who was owned by Coolmore, won two races including the Silver Flash Stakes,[4] and went on to become a very successful broodmare who also produced St Mark's Basilica. She was descended from the British broodmare Fiddlededee who was the ancestor of Mountain Lodge, Might and Power, Lucky Owners and Sariska.[5]
Racing career
2018: two-year-old season
Magna Grecia made his racecourse debut on 30 September over seven
On 27 October Magna Grecia was back in England for the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy over one mile on
2019: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut Magna Grecia was one of seventeen colts to contest the 211th running of the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse and was partnered again by Donnacha O'Brien. He started the 11/2 second favourite behind his stablemate Ten Sovereigns while the other contenders included Madhmoon (Juvenile Stakes), Skardu (Craven Stakes), Advertise, Royal Marine, Shine So Bright (European Free Handicap) and Great Scot. While the bulk of the field raced up the centre of the track Magna Grecia, Shine So Bright and the 66/1 outsider King of Change raced down the stands-side (the left-hand side from the jockeys' viewpoint). In the last quarter mile it became clear that the stands-side trio held a distinct advantage and Magna Grecia overtook Shine So Bright to take the lead approaching the final furlong. Magna Grecia forged clear in the closing stages to win by two and a half lengths from King of Change, with Skardu finishing best of the centre group in third ahead of Madhmoon and Ten Sovereigns.[10] Aidan O'Brien, who was winning the race for a record tenth time said "He's a lovely, straightforward horse and he's done very well over the winter. He's got very pacy and he's a strong traveller now. We were a little bit worried that he was over there by himself when all the more fancied horses were on the other side. Donnacha knew the horse, he was riding him in all his work, so I didn’t have to explain much to him."[11]
Three weeks after his win at Newmarket Magna Grecia was ridden by Moore when he started 6/4 joint favourite with Too Darn Hot for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Racing on firmer ground he tracked the leaders but was unable to quicken in the last quarter mile and came home fifth behind Phoenix of Spain, Too Darn Hot, Decrypt and Skardu. He sustained a tendon injury in the race and was off the track until the autumn.
Donnacha O'Brien took the ride when Magna Grecia made his comeback in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight mile course at Ascot Racecourse on 19 October. Racing on heavy ground he started at odds of 13/2 but tired badly in the last quarter mile and came home fifteenth of the sixteen runners behind King of Change, beaten more than thirty lengths by the winner.
Pedigree
Sire Invincible Spirit (IRE) 1997 |
Green Desert (USA) 1983 |
Danzig | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
---|---|---|---|
Pas de Nom | |||
Foreign Courier | Sir Ivor | ||
Courtly Dee | |||
Rafha (GB) 1987 |
Kris | Sharpen Up | |
Doubly Sure | |||
Eljazzi (IRE) | Artaius (USA) | ||
Border Bounty (GB) | |||
Dam Cabaret (IRE) 2007 |
Galileo 1998 |
Sadler's Wells (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
Fairy Bridge | |||
Urban Sea (USA) | Miswaki | ||
Allegretta (GB) | |||
Witch of Fife (USA) 1993 |
Lear Fan | Roberto | |
Wac | |||
Fife (IRE) | Lomond (USA) | ||
Fiddle Faddle (Family: 6-e)[5] |
References
- ^ a b "Magna Grecia pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ "Tattersalls December Foal Sale 2016 – Catalogue". Racing Post.
- ^ "Invincible Spirit – Stud Record". Racing Post.
- ^ "Cabaret – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
- ^ a b "Fenella – Family 6-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden result". Racing Post. 30 September 2018.
- At The Races.
- ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy result". Racing Post. 27 October 2018.
- ^ Cook, Chris (27 October 2018). "Magna Grecia wins Vertem Futurity for Aidan O'Brien after controversial finish". The Guardian.
- ^ "2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. 4 May 2019.
- ^ Wood, Greg (4 May 2019). "2,000 Guineas: Aidan O'Brien lands his 10th victory in race with Magna Grecia". The Guardian.
External links
- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Magna Grecia