Grecia can extend O’Brien domination

Magna Grecia can continue Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the Vertem Futurity Trophy by taking the final Group One race of the domestic season at Doncaster.

O’Brien has captured this prestigious prize eight times, with such future stars as High Chaparral, Camelot and Saxon Warrior last year to be just two behind the record set by the late Sir Henry Cecil.

As usual, the Ballydoyle trainer had plenty to choose from to represent him - and Magna Grecia looks the pick of the bunch.

The Invincible Spirit colt is the type of late maturing horse that fits the bill for the Town Moor showpiece, with one eye very much on next year.

Magna Grecia made his debut only four weeks ago over seven furlongs at Navan, where he won in tidy fashion.

He had his second start two weeks later and stepped up considerably on his first effort. However, he lost out by a neck to the more experienced French raider Persian King in the Group Three Autumn Stakes.

He stayed the mile well enough that day and, with plenty of improvement to come, he can go into his winter quarters as a possible Classic contender for 2019.