G1 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has been removed from consideration for the G1 St James's Palace S. and will likely instead target the G1 Sussex S. on July 31, according to Racing Post. Trainer Aidan O'Brien told that publication that the bay hasn't recovered sufficiently from a torn hamstring.
“Magna Grecia is nearly 100% but he won't be back in work until next Monday so we just ran out of time with regard to Royal Ascot,” he said. “It took a bit more time than we thought but he is recovering well. The Sussex at Goodwood would [look] like an ideal race to target him at now, but we will see how Monday goes and take it from there.”
Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), meanwhile, was supplemented for the St James's Palace for the same Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Flaxman Stables ownership group.
“We thought it was worthwhile to supplement Circus Maximus for the St James's Palace S. as he has been in great form since the Derby,” O'Brien told Racing Post. “When you look back on his form from last year over a mile, he wasn't too far off the best of them at Doncaster in the autumn so we think he should be fine over a mile. We felt it was the right thing to do and, as I said, he seems in great form.”
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