Magna Grecia win takes him to 16-1 for next year’s Derby

Magna Grecia demonstrated a determined attitude as he gave Aidan O’Brien a ninth win in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster.

Narrowly defeated in the Autumn Stakes by Andre Fabre’s Persian King last time out, he stayed on best to deny Charlie Hills’s Phoenix Of Spain.

Stablemates Western Australia and Circus Maximus ensured the race was run at a solid gallop, but it was Donnacha O’Brien’s mount who just prevailed by a head as the 2-1 favourite.

O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with him, he’s still a bit babyish but he’s coming forward lovely. We think a mile will be his thing next year.”

The result provided his young rider with yet another Group One in what has been a stellar season. Set to be crowned Irish champion jockey, he has also won the Oaks, 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby among a host of successes.

A stewards’ inquiry was called as there appeared to be contact between the first two, initially when Magna Grecia moved out from behind his stable companions to make his challenge and then just before the line, but there was no change to the result.

Paddy Power offers 16-1 about Magna Grecia for next year’s Derby, but O’Brien Snr is far from certain about the limitations of his stamina.

He added: “He would have learnt a lot today. We thought he might be a miler, but he’s out of Galileo mare which gives him a chance. I always thought if he got a mile we’d be delighted. Maybe he will stay further. He showed plenty of pace in the spring. He kept going and he’s a big, strong horse, so maybe he will get a mile and a half.”

Hills was thrilled with his colt’s performance. “He’s had a great season and has got the mile well,” he said. “He’s a nice horse to look forward to next year. 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.”

Meanwhile Winx, the champion Australian mare, took her unbeaten run to 29 races when she won the Group One Cox Plate at Moonee Valley for a record-breaking fourth time. She swooped past British challenger Benbatl in the last of the 10 furlongs to gain a comfortable success.

Jockey Hugh Bowman said: “The electricity that came through my body when I turned into the home straight just then was something I guess only I get to feel. Everyone watching gets so much joy and pleasure out of the superb ability of this wonderful horse.”