PHOENIX OF SPAIN TAKES FLIGHT IN THE IRISH 2000 GUINEAS

There was great anticipation in the lead-up to the Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas which looked to be a clash between Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit) and Too Darn Hot (Dubawi), but it was Phoenix Of Spain who set the race alight. The Charlie Hills-trained son of Lope De Vega broke smartly, got the lead and set steady early fractions under Jamie Spencer, who had taken the Gr.2 Greenlands Stakes in the previous race. Magna Grecia travelled well approaching the final three furlongs, but he was tracked all the way by Too Darn Hot. The former was soon in trouble,and latter kicked on and looked like laying down a big challenge, but Phoenix Of Spain was yet to play his hand and, when asked to quicken by Spencer, he put the race to bed.
The winning margin was three lengths to last year’s European Champion Two-Year-Old Too Darn Hot, while Decrypt (Dark Angel) ran a huge race to get third, a half a length further back in trainer Paddy Twomey’s first season with a full licence.
Phoenix Of Spain, who it was announced after the race would retire to the Irish National Stud at the end of his racing career, hadmissed the Newmarket Guineas due to a dirty scope, but he had close form with the winner Magna Grecia, having been just a head behind him in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster. He also had form with Too Darn Hot, who had beaten him by a length and three quarters in the Gr.2 Champagne Stakes in September.