Magna Grecia begins campaign with 2000 Guineas win at Newmarket

Magna Grecia ended his 2018 campaign with a win in a Group 1 race in England and began his 3-year-old season in the same manner on Saturday, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien a record 10th win in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse.

Ridden by O’Brien’s son, Donnacha, Magna Grecia (11-2) won the 2000 Guineas by 2 1/2 lengths over 66-1 King of Change. Skardu finished third at 8-1 in the field of 19.

Aidan O’Brien had two starters, including 9-4 favorite Ten Sovereigns, who finished fifth, beaten 4 3/4 lengths.

Magna Grecia, the second choice, raced with a group of three horses closest to the grandstand side of the one-mile straightaway course. Magna Grecia stalked leader Shine So Bright before taking command of the race a furlong from the finish.

King of Change also raced on the stands side. Shine So Bright faded to finish sixth.

Owned by the Coolmore syndicate and the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Holdings, Magna Grecia is an Irish-bred colt by Invincible Spirit who has won three of four races. Last October, Magna Grecia won his Group 1 debut in the Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster, England. In his only loss, Magna Grecia was beaten a neck when second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

O’Brien said Magna Grecia will be kept at a mile this spring, with starts in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 25 and at Royal Ascot in June under consideration.

O’Brien, 49, won his first English 2000 Guineas in 1998 and has won the last three runnings and four of the last five.