Hermosa scores upset win for O'Brien in English 1000 Guineas

A day after landing the English 2000 Guineas with Magna Grecia, trainer Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore were back at it again Sunday at Newmarket, as Hermosa scored an upset victory in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas.

With O’Brien’s top jockeys Ryan Moore and Donnacha O’Brien (who rode Magna Grecia) riding other horses Sunday, the mount on Hermosa was left to Wayne Lordan, who put his filly on an early lead she’d never relinquish.

It was the fourth time O’Brien won the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas in the same season and the fifth 1000 Guineas win for the Ireland-based trainer, one of the most successful in racing history.

Hermosa, 15-1 in North American parimutuel betting, was making her first start as a 3-year-old following a strong seven-race 2-year-old campaign that saw her win as high as the Group 3 level and place in Group 1s. One of her better races last season came when she finished second over the Newmarket course to Iridessa, the Joseph O’Brien-trained filly whom Donnacha O’Brien rode to an eighth-place finish Sunday.

Hermosa broke alertly and dashed off to a clear early lead, and even after several rivals drew nearly abreast of her with a quarter-mile to race, Hermosa plugged along gamely and was going away at the finish. She won by one length over Lady Kaya as tepid race favorite Qabala finished third.

Hermosa is by Galileo and out of the Pivotal mare Beauty is Truth, who already had produced two seven-figure earners, The United States and Hydrangea.