Magna Grecia All Set For Irish Guineas

Magna Grecia All Set For Irish Guineas

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that Magna Grecia is in line to bid for a second Guineas success next weekend at the Curragh, after victory at Newmarket earlier this month.

The plan has always been to stick to a mile for the English Guineas winner, who took advantage of his high draw on the Rowley Mile to streak clear on the stands rail under Aidan's son Donnacha O'Brien.

The three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit will be expected to follow up his success in his native Ireland, along with Oaks heroine Hermosa - together landing a double for team Ballydoyle in Suffolk, who will be hoping for more of the same in the 1,000 Guineas on her respective route to the French Oaks.

Magna Grecia - the best horse on the day in the 2,000 Guineas, and now a dual Grade One winner, will be a short priced favourite for O'Brien, but won't be much bigger than stablemate Magical, who is set to run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in the same colours the following day.

O'Brien issued an update on his Classic contenders, and sent out a warning to any potential challengers.

(Credit: Sporting Life) He said: "Magna Grecia, Hermosa and Magical are all well and on target for the Curragh next weekend.

"Everything has gone to plan so far. We mapped out the three runs for Magical, with the Tattersalls Gold Cup as her first main target this season.

"It's possible we will have a few more runners in both Guineas. The ones that will be left in are possibles.

"We have had a change of heart with Hermosa - we were thinking originally of going for the Oaks, but it's less than a week between the Irish Guineas and the Oaks.

"We decided we'd go to the Irish Guineas, and from there on to the French Oaks, as it is worth nearly twice what the English Oaks is worth, and we thought it would be a nice stepping stone to go from a mile up to a mile and a quarter.

"Happen could also run, along with Just Wonderful, while Fleeting might go for the English Oaks.

"Fairyland will be left in and is a possible, but could go back in distance, we shall see."

The Irish 2,000 Guineas meeting commences at the Curragh on the 25th May.