‘Ultimate Racehorse’ Magical Turns In Winning Effort In British Champion Stakes

Aidan O’Brien described Magical as “the ultimate racehorse” following a smooth performance to justify even-money favoritism in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Just 13 days on from a fifth-placed effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Magical, a four-year-old daughter of Galileo, traveled powerfully throughout today’s 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 G1 victory, she might not be finished this season 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!”

Donnacha O’Brien completed an 8/1 double on the day when super filly Magical won the feature race on QIPCO British Champions Day, the Champion Stakes.

O’Brien, who 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 – said of Magical: “She’s such a tough filly and so full of talent, which is why she can run so well after a hard race in France two weeks ago.

“She’s been in good form at home, but you cannot tell how a horse will be until you get to the track and get stuck into them – that’s when you find out how much is left in the tank.

“I was close to the pace in the Arc for most of the race and she just got tired in the closing stages.

“It’s unbelievable to ride two winners on [QIPCO] British Champions Day – it’s what all jockeys dream about. Ryan Moore had to go to Australia to ride Ten Sovereigns and I was lucky to be the stand-in at this meeting.”