Irish 2000 Guineas matches Magna Grecia, Too Darn Hot

Three weeks later than expected, Magna Grecia and Too Darn Hot will meet for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas for 3-year-old milers at The Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

Magna Grecia won the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas on May 4 at Newmarket, a race that was on Too Darn Hot’s schedule until he was sidelined by a minor injury in April. Too Darn Hot finished second in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at 1 5/16 miles on turf May 16 at York Racecourse in his 3-year-old debut, a loss that ended plans for a start in the Group 1 English Derby at Epsom Racecourse on June 1.

The Irish 2000 Guineas, which has a purse of $446,840, will be the first start at a mile for Too Darn Hot since he won a maiden race at Sandown Park outside of London last August in his debut. He later finished the 2018 season with three consecutive group stakes wins at seven furlongs on turf, including the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.

:: MEMORIAL DAY SALE: Save 50% on Formulator PPs, DRF Plus access, and handicapping reports

Trained by John Gosden for Andrew Lloyd Webber, Too Darn Hot was recognized as Europe’s champion 2-year-old last year for his four-race undefeated campaign.

In the Dante, Too Darn Hot was well placed throughout from a stalking position, but could not keep pace with 7-1 Telecaster in the final furlong and was beaten a length as the even-money favorite.

Magna Grecia, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore syndicate, has won 3 of 4 starts and is on a two-race winning streak in Group 1 races at a mile. Last October, Magna Grecia finished his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse.

In the English 2000 Guineas, Magna Grecia was never far from the lead and took command with a furlong remaining, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over the longshot King of Change.

O’Brien’s son Donnacha rode Magna Grecia in the English 2000 Guineas, but Ryan Moore has the mount Saturday. Moore rode Magna Grecia to a win in a maiden race at Naas Racecourse in Ireland last September.

As of Thursday, Magna Grecia was a slight favorite at 11-8 with European bookmakers, with Too Darn Hot at 3-2. The only other runner in the field of 14 colts and fillies in single digits was Skardu at 8-1. Trained by William Haggas, Skardu won the Group 3 Craven Stakes at seven furlongs at Newmarket in April and was third in the English 2000 Guineas.