By Tom Frary
Bearing the mantle of leadership from Ballydoyle's legions for Saturday's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S., Smith, Magnier, Tabor and Flaxman Stables' Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had to go from boy to man in less than two minutes and roll up his sleeves to prevail in Doncaster's straight-mile test of juvenile staying power. Second to TDN Rising Star Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Newmarket's G3 Autumn S. over this mile trip Oct. 13, the 2-1 favourite raced in fifth early under Donnacha O'Brien with the stable setting a fierce pace with Western Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) towing Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Needing niggling along and looking for a spell to be in trouble off that demanding tempo, the imposing bay entered contention inside the final quarter mile and there were five in line with little between them approaching the half-furlong marker. They included all three from Ballydoyle and the G3 Acomb S. winner and G2 Champagne S. runner-up Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), as well as the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), but it was Magna Grecia who had the strongest final input to beat Phoenix of Spain by a head. Western Australia stuck on to be 3/4 of a length away in third, despite having raced on the edge throughout, with Circus Maximus and Great Scot just a short head and a neck further behind. The winner, who provided a ninth renewal for Aidan O'Brien, had to survive a stewards' inquiry as he caused interference to the runner-up late on. “He's still a little bit green and babyish, but he's coming forward lovely and would have learnt a lot today,” Aidan said. “He had to fight to the line and is a lovely horse who is a miler. That's what we think–that will be his thing and he might not get a lot further.”
Aidan O'Brien is one off Sir Henry Cecil's record of 10 in this and it is only a matter of time before he equals and then exceeds that tally. Magna Grecia appears to differ from all of the stable's prior winners as a colt who is poised more for the mile Classics next term rather than the middle-distance ones which this race in its older guise leant towards. Even last year's winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looked at the time to be a genuine Derby colt and it was only later that it became clear that a mile to 10 furlongs was his thing. “Donnacha said that experience is going to really help him,” the trainer added. “He was a lovely horse in the spring and showed loads of speed then. He would have had no problem running over five or six, which is always a good sign but he was off through the summer and then we had that funny spell after that. Ryan loved him when he rode him first time and he was a little bit green at Newmarket, so that's why he's there. He's unexposed still really. We didn't have many Invincible Spirits before, but with him being an influence for speed he's a good cross with Galileo.”
Phoenix of Spain's trainer Charlie Hills said of the runner-up, “He had the form and he's a seriously good horse. He's had a great season and has got the mile well. He's a nice horse to look forward to next year obviously. They went a good gallop there and he got it pretty well. If he gets a mile and a quarter, all the better. If he gets a mile and a half, even better.”
Magna Grecia, who only made his debut just under four weeks ago when winning by 3 1/2 lengths over seven furlongs at Naas Sept. 30, becomes the first black-type winner for Cabaret (Ire), who despite being by Galileo (Ire) had enough speed to take the G3 Silver Flash S. over seven furlongs as a juvenile. After failing to place thereafter, including when tried in the G1 Epsom Oaks, she was denied the opportunity of joining the Coolmore broodmare band and was sold to BBA Ireland on behalf of Woodnook Farm for 600,000gns at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Her best prior to Magna Grecia was his 4-year-old full-brother Invincible Ryker (Ire), who took a handicap at Dundalk over seven furlongs last term and appeared not to see out an extra furlong when tried. Cabaret is kin to the G3 Solario S. winner Drumfire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the smart sprinter Ho Choi (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was runner-up in the G2 Gimcrack S. The third dam Fife (Ire) (Lomond), who stayed middle distances and was third in the Listed Lupe S., is also the second dam of the G3 Park S. scorer and G1 Moyglare S. runner-up Ugo Fire (Ire) (Bluebird) related to the GI Hollywood Turf Cup hero Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme) and the G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}). Cabaret's yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) was led out unsold at €95,000 during Tuesday's session of the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY S.-G1, £231,000, Doncaster, 10-27, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:37.72, g/s.
1–MAGNA GRECIA (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Cabaret (Ire) (GSW-Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Witch of Fife, by Lear Fan
3rd Dam: Fife (Ire), by Lomond
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (340,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Flaxman Stables (Ireland) Ltd; B-Wood Nook Farm Pty Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. £131,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $197,510. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Phoenix of Spain (Ire), 127, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Lucky Clio (Ire), by Key of Luck. (78,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer; B-Mrs Cherry Faeste (IRE); T-Charlie Hills. £49,665.
3–Western Australia (Ire), 127, c, 2, Australia (GB)–What a Treasure (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (260,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £24,856.
Margins: HD, 3/4, NO. Odds: 2.00, 5.50, 50.00.
Also Ran: Circus Maximus (Ire), Great Scot (GB), Kick On (GB), Turgenev (GB), Dashing Willoughby (GB), Raakib Alhawa (Ire), Kuwait Currency. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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