Magical effort at Leopardstown
Magical proved a class above her rivals with a victory in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly has invested a lot of her career to date chasing the brilliant Permit at the top level – but her CV, she currently has three Group One wins following this success.
The 11-10 favourite had a fantasy passing, closest to the pace set by stablemate Hunting Horn and then producing far too much rate for those in behind after Ryan Moore dedicated in the straight.
Two from the O’Brien team chased her home, together with Magic Wand second and Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck another venture off in third party – in 20-1 and 12-1 respectively.
Japanese mare Deirdre has been the horse in the race, even trapped for racing room once the pace quickened and then staying on best to finish .
However there was no stopping Magical, that had been a trendy winner as she took great advantage of Enable’s absence for once, in the process making herself estimates of 6-1 from 14-1 from Paddy Power and Betfair, should she attempt to carry on John Gosden’s mare again next month Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
O’Brien explained:”We’re thrilled. She had a midsummer break and also her very first encounter was in York. Permit was run by her and then we knew she was likely to come forwards a bit that was good.
“”She was just prepared to visit York. Obviously Enable is when we found her running that we were excited about this race and also the autumn after that and a filly.
“We knew she was likely to be in real good shape for now and I couldn’t have been happier with her.
“She is a beautiful filly. We know she handles an ease from the ground and gets the mile and a half, she was right back into a mile and a quarter now on floor that is fast and Ryan gave a lovely ride to her.
“She had really come ahead from York. She came out and quickened the way she did and travelled like this, Ryan said she does not do much before, she is a filly.
“This was the next race of her autumn campaign program and she is really something to look forward to.
“The plan was to go to the Arc from here, but generally what happens is we observe how they come from it, talk about the lads and they see if they remain about the programme or go another way.
“It is something great to need to think about.”
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