Magna Grecia still on for Ascot

Horse Racing
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Aidan O’Brien says Magna Grecia is on course to feature in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot next month.

Magna Grecia was tipped to land the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday, having arrived at the venue on the back of an impressive victory in the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket.

However, the three-year-old colt was never close to his best and could only finish fifth out of the 14 runners, nearly six lengths behind winner Phoenix Of Spain.

Despite the disappointing Ireland run, O’Brien revealed the plan is still to take his charge to Ascot in a bid to clinch the St James’s Palace Stakes.

‘Everything seems grand with Magna Grecia,’ he was quoted as saying by independent.ie.

‘He only went out for a walk this morning, but for some reason he wasn’t the same horse as he was at Newmarket.

‘Having said that, I wouldn’t dream of taking away from the winner in any way.

We were happy with him going into the race.

It was only three weeks from Newmarket, so we didn’t do an awful lot with him, but he seemed fine.

‘The plan was that he would run here [at the Curragh] and then go to Ascot so, unless something unforeseen comes up, that will probably be where he goes.’

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