A full sister to Bush Hill Stud’s Flying The Flag and multiple Gr1 winner Rhododendron, Galileo daughter Magical was described as ‘the ultimate racehorse’ by trainer Aida O’Brien following a smooth performance to justify even-money favouritism in the £1,358,750 Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
Just 13 days on from a fifth-placed effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, 4yo Magical travelled powerfully throughout the 10-furlong contest and ran on strongly to score by three-quarters of a length, defeating the staying-on Addeybb (5/1).
This was Magical’s fourth Gr1 victory and took her career earnings over £3.36 million. She might not be finished this season either, with a potential tilt at the Breeders’ Cup in the offing according to the master of Ballydoyle.
O’Brien said: “Magical is an unbelievable mare. From the start of her career as a two-year-old, every time she races, she turns out.
“Every morning she wakes up with a total clean sheet, she never holds offence to nobody even if they upset her the day before. She just takes it on the chin and asks ‘what do you want me to do today?'”
“Magical is the most unbelievable mare I have ever seen. Her mind is incredible. She gets a mile and a half, but I think a mile and a quarter is her ideal trip. She gets a mile and a half because of her class.
“The Arc was a strongly-run race and she has come out that and won here. She handles ease in the ground, goes on fast ground – what can you say?
“She is the ultimate racehorse – that is what she is.
“It’s hard to say, but it looks like she is still progressing which is amazing.
“I don’t tell the lads anything ever – I learnt that a long time ago! They will decide what they want to do. She is sound mentally and physically. We now have to decide if we go to the Breeders’ Cup with her.
“If she goes to the Breeders’ Cup, I would imagine that she would run in the Fillies & Mares race.
“It would be unbelievable if she stayed in training – she would only be delighted to!”
Her rider Donnacha O’Brien completed an 8/1 double on the day and had earlier won the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Kew Gardens – like Magical, trained by his father, Aidan, and sired by Galileo.
Magical has lived up to her name over three seasons, winning Group races in each year, including landing the 2018 G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. She finished fifth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on her most recent start, but shrugged off the exertions for another big win today. Earlier this week a close relative of hers, a yearling filly, was sold for 1,050,000gns at Tattersalls to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
O’Brien had earlier won the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Kew Gardens – like Magical, trained by the jockey’s father, Aidan, and sired by Galileo.
