Ratings Update: Grecia not yet a great Guineas winner

Inevitably, the absence of several of the leading ante-post fancies detracted from the quality of the 2000 Guineas, the leading juvenile Too Darn Hot having met with a setback, Quorto and Persian King – staying in France – other notable absentees. That led to a field blessed more with quantity than anything else, the race attracting the joint-largest field since 24 went to post in 2007, and, in the event, there was a rather unsatisfactory outcome to the opening classic of the season, too.

The key point of the race was almost immediately after the start, when a group of three headed for the stands rail. That trio, who were led at a good gallop by the eventual sixth Shine So Bright (remains on 113), held a clear advantage over the main group in the centre soon after halfway, and it was ultimately one that they would not relinquish, with the other pair in that group – Magna Grecia (up 6 lb to 125p; timefigure of 119) and King of Change (118 from 93p) – filling the first two places. Subsequent events at the meeting suggested that there was no great advantage in being on the rail, more that the way that group raced was more effective than the main group.

That being said, it's hard to believe that Magna Grecia wouldn't have won wherever he was positioned, so authoritative was his performance on the day, laying down a marker for the top races in the miling division this summer. He finished his race strongly and will likely stay a bit further if required, but his chance of staying the Derby trip would be slight, and it's no surprise that he will be campaigned with the Irish Guineas and St James's Palace on the agenda, likely to take all the beating in the first of those at the end of the month.

Magna Grecia a wide-margin winner in the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/la5PbyDxld

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 4, 2019

The runner-up excelled himself on just his fourth start, improving by the best part of two stone in pushing the winner for most of the way. It's hard to see why he should reverse the placings were they to meet again, though, and he might be better off going up in trip, bred to stay further and entered in the Dante and the Derby after all. Skardu (up 4 lb to 116p) was the ‘winner’ of the race in the main group, and with further progress on the cards, he could well prove the main threat to Magna Grecia were they to meet again at either the Curragh or Royal Ascot.

The following day’s 1000 Guineas proved a fairer test, with the whole field racing up the centre of the track, albeit in two slightly different groups. The winner Hermosa (114p from 110; timefigure of 113) and runner-up Lady Kaya (up 6 lb to 113) were always towards the head of affairs, with the pace set by the former one that drew out stamina, that ultimately proving the difference between her and the strong-travelling Lady Kaya on the uphill climb to the line.

Like Magna Grecia, Hermosa’s rating is that of just an average Guineas winner at this stage, but there are still likely to plenty of good races to be won with her – she may go to the Irish Guineas next, but, with a step up in trip likely to see her to even better effect, the Oaks appeals as a more suitable target. There are also reasons to be positive about the two who chased her home, with Lady Kaya likely to be suited by dropping back to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and the third Qabala (up 5 lb to 112p) likely to prove more streetwise with this experience under her belt, having done her best work at the finish after running green early on.

Easy does it! Hermosa (14-1) wins the 1000 Guineas with Wayne Lordan on top and does it from the front to give Aidan O'Brien the first two English Group 1s of the season! pic.twitter.com/I0bPdGxpyo

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2019

The first Group race of the Guineas meeting was Saturday’s Palace House Stakes, a race that tends to be a high-calibre Group 3 used as a stepping stone to bigger races later in the season. That is certainly the case this year, with Mabs Cross (up 5 lb to 123; timefigure of 119) proving than ever to defy a Group-1 penalty on her return from seven months off; she ran right up to the timefigure she posted when third in the King’s Stand last year, but doing so first time out when her stable has been slow to hit form consolidates the view that she has returned better than ever.

Communique (up 4 lb to 122) also produced a career-best effort to win the Jockey Club Stakes that followed, benefiting from an enterprising ride to hold off the challenge of last year’s winner Defoe (remains on 124). Admittedly, some of his rivals were not seen to best effect, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t continue to give a good account, likely to prove well worth his place if taking up his entries in the Coronation Cup and/or Hardwicke Stakes.

Roger Varian and David Egan may have hit the crossbar with the likes of Defoe and Qabala, but they didn’t leave the Rowley Mile empty-handed, with UAE Jewel (up 11 lb to 115p) taking the step up in grade in his stride to maintain his unbeaten record in the listed Newmarket Stakes on Saturday. He was value for more than the official winning margin, and this progressive sort is likely to have some big targets on his agenda before too long, with the French Derby a possible target.

The other pattern event on Sunday’s card, the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes, featured three horses who had been regulars at the highest level last year, though it was one tried just once in that grade who prevailed, Worth Waiting (up 6 lb to 116) clearly primed for the day but still deserving full credit for putting some smart rivals to the sword in good style.

Similar comments apply to Maqsad (up 17 lb to 113p), the dominant winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes, a race with a strong tradition of throwing up smart, progressive fillies. Connections may well by tempted by the Oaks, certainly an interesting contender for all that her stamina wouldn't be assured, though they also have the option of keeping to this trip for the French Oaks, which invariably takes less winning; either way, she rates a most exciting prospect.

Maqsad could be called the winner of the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes from a long way out - a really exciting filly for William Haggas to take to big meetings this summer (new joint favourite for the Oaks)

All of Sunday's results
➡https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/vTdG3tOEji

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2019

Undoubtedly, the outstanding performance of the week from a timefigure perspective came not in either of the two Guineas, but from Calyx (rating up 6 lb to 126p), who could hardly have been more impressive in winning the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday, leaving his rivals for dead in a timefigure of 116, which becomes 126 when his sectional upgrade is added on; he looks a deserving favourite for the three-year-old sprint showpiece at Royal Ascot. Meanwhile, the Wokingham was mentioned as a potential target for On The Warpath (rating up 6 lb to 120; timefigure of 118) after his handicap success at Newmarekt on Sunday, but his three-length win came from a BHA mark of 102, so he will have to be verging on a Group 1 sprinter to defy his new mark.