Champion Stakes made to measure for Magical
Aidan O’Brien sensations 10 furlongs and tender earth may prove ideal conditions for Magical in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.
The filly is bidding for back-to-back wins on British Champions Day, having won the Fillies & Mares race 12 months ago – after which she went down all firearms to Empower at the Breeders’ Cup.
Magical discovered Permit a difficult nut to crack on more than one occasion and was busy – but victories in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Irish Champion Stakes have witnessed her add to her Group One haul.
She finished fifth at this month Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, time – in nine – which she has been from the first two since the exact identical race last year.
O’Brien stated:”She’s an amazing filly. She runs over excursions that are distinct – all ground comes for her, and she’s out of her races.
“Clearly she conducted from the Arc, which was not that long ago. But she appears to be in good form, and we’re excited about running her.
“We believe on soft earth, 10 furlongs is likely her trip. She must be quite comfortable at it with this ground anyway.”
O’Brien also conducts I Will Fly – agonisingly beaten from the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes but with just a win at Dundalk to display for her attempts.
“We believe I Could Fly might like the floor,” said O’Brien.
“Her very best run came this time last year above a mile on soft ground, but she has form above a mile and a quarter too. She is in good shape as well.”
There’s been lots of cash for William Haggas’ Addeybb this week but shifting to the internal hurdles monitor may well not be in favor of the mud-lover.
Haggas stated:”We’re thrilled the race is on and we are delighted to be participating in Obviously we hope it rains non stop from now before the race!”
“Magical is really a high tech filly, and he has all on to conquer her. He has got a bit to discover, but he’s a smart horse when the floor is soft.
“We’re going to the race fresh, but he will probably need to be if he is likely to win.
“He has had a good preparation and that he had a nice gallop at Newmarket last week, which will have benefited him.
“I’d say he is a long-shot on form, but if he gets his terms he could encounter it.”
Deirdre was a surprise winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood – and to establish was no fluke, she then looked unlucky from the Irish Champion Stakes behind .
Yoshitake Hashida, assistant trainer to Mitsuru Hashida, stated:”She seems in very good form. She came at all – so far, so great.
“She had been unfortunate at Leopardstown, also I feel that the most frustrated man was Oisin Murphy. It’s a day for Oisin, because he will be confirmed as the winner jockey – which is great.
“They’ve moved the race to the interior track, which will be good. I believe that’s the reason we have opted to conduct on Champions Day, rather than visiting the Breeders’ Cup or something.
“We believe she’s in much better state than she was at (Royal) Ascot – we all believe she is in really top condition now.
“We first met Magical from the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and acquired a little closer to her at the Irish Champion. Whereas yet another race in France has conduct we have had a break since the Champion.
“We would prefer faster floor, but I expect she can run a great race.”
Having come so close in numerous Group Ones, John Gosden’s Coronet appeared destined to not win one – but she broke her duck on her penultimate start in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and then followed up at the Prix Jean Romanet next time outside.
She will head to the paddocks after this – lose, win or draw.
“We all waited all that time for a Group One – and now she’s won 2!” Said Richard Evans, who oversees owners of Coronet, Denford Stud.
“It is more than we might have wished for – and that is her very last run.
“We are just imagining. Soft ground won’t be minded by her – she is fine , although she wouldn’t need it too heavy.
“Obviously Mr Haggas’ horse (Addeybb) will adore the floor, and that’s currently in there, but we would only be delighted to be in the frame – a win could be exceptional.
“We were just a length behind Magical last calendar year, and hopefully they’ll be shut again, but that I think Magical and Mr Haggas’ would be the two to conquer – and there may be some surprise packages.
“A win would be fantastic and a terrific way to end her racing career. She will be new – she has not run since winning in France, so it might come and the Arc was run from by Magical.
“The great ones don’t come along often, and it was nice that the decision to keep in training was rewarded”