Phoenix Of Spain and Jamie Spencer assert© Photo Healy Racing
Bred by the late Cherry Faeste at Tourgar House in County Waterford, Phoenix Of Spain put up an impressive performance from the front in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
The grey is trained in Lambourn by Charlie Hills but there was strong Irish interest to the win as he’s by Ballylinch Stud County Kilkenny’s Lope De Vega and he was ridden by Tipperary’s Jamie Spencer.
Second at two behind the joint favourites here, Too Darn Hot (2nd) and Magna Grecia (5th), Phoenix Of Spain was making his first appearance since October.
The 16/1 shot asserted from over a furlong out to defeat Too Darn Hot by three lengths, with half a length to the staying on Decrypt in third.
Spencer was doubling up after winning the previous race on Mr Lupton whilst good news to emerge after the big one was that Phoenix Of Spain will stand at the Irish National Stud when his racing days are done.
Whilst many punters got a good run with Too Darn Hot, Magna Grecia didn’t come up to expectations.
His jockey Ryan Moore said: “Obviously it’s a bit disappointing. I don’t think he’s ran his race and hopefully we’ll find out why.”
It’s all about the winner though and Paddy Power go 6/4 favourite from 12/1 about Phoenix Of Spain for the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot.
“It was very impressive. We were slightly concerned with the draw in one and were really concious to get a good start. We just didn't want to get stuck on the rail in behind a few,” said Hills.
“Luckily he jumped good. The plan wasn't really to make the running but Jamie gave him an absolute peach and he's some horse.
“To sustain that gallop all the way through and he just keeps lengthening. He's a big horse and whatever he did last year was a bonus. He's got a hell of a future ahead of him.
“We had a setback in January which put us back three or four weeks and it's always hard chasing a horse to get ready for an English Guineas.
“We did get him there but unfortunately we had a dirty scope prior to the race so we couldn't run.
“We had given him a racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Craven week and the week after that he scoped dirty, Who knows it might have been a blessing in disguise.
“He had some fantastic form last year when he was beaten by Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia.
“He's got a great family on the dam's side and he's by a fantastic sire in Lope De Vega. Whatever he was going to go he was going to be better at three.
“At Doncaster things didn't work out for us. Unfortunately we just got too far back and if we had rode him a little bit more like today I think he would nearly have won that race.
“I had my first classic winner here with Just The Judge back in 2013. That was a tremendous thrill and this is very special as well.
“It's so great for the owners, Ann and Tony, who have put so much into the sport over recent years and they deserve every success they get.
“We'll obviously enjoy today and then sit back down in a couple of days time and prepare him for Ascot and the St James Palace.
“After that we're really looking forward to stepping him up to a mile-and-a-quarter. He has an Eclipse entry as well.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Magna Grecia, trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(GC & EM)
