Rhododendron's Sister Off the Mark At Cork

1st-COR, €16,500, Mdn, 8-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.55, g/y.
MAGICAL (IRE) (f, 2, Galileo {Ire}–Halfway to Heaven {Ire} {MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139}, by Pivotal {GB}), second on debut behind the subsequent G3 Silver Flash S. third Dawn Delivers (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) over six furlongs at The Curragh July 16, had been taken out of her intended target at Glorious Goodwood last week due to the heavy rain and raced in second early. Holed up temporarily at the top of the straight, the 2-5 favourite had to chase down Mary Tudor (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) when in the clear. Made to work hard by that Godolphin newcomer to get to the lead inside the final 100 yards, the bay proved up to the task and was tough to prevail by a head. “She was going to go to Goodwood during the week, but it got very bad there,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “She is babyish and green still and won't mind anything from seven to a mile.” Magical is the last known offering produced by the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Halfway To Heaven and is therefore a full-sister to last year's G1 Fillies' Mile winner Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly, GSW& G1SP-Ire, G1SW-Eng, $797,049. She had the misfortune to run into two supreme rivals in Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in this term's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks. Also a full to the stable's G3 International S. winner Flying the Flag (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702, the winner is a granddaughter of the high-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who collected the G2 King's Stand S., G2 Temple S. and G3 King George S. and placed in the G1 July Cup. Her other notable daughters were the Sir Henry Cecil-trained G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. scorer Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Like Halfway To Heaven, the latter also raced for Ballydoyle and won the G3 Summer S. before producing Photo Call (Ire), another daughter of Galileo who captured the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. This is also the family of the late G3 Coventry S.-winning sire Verglas (Ire) and G3 Athasi S. winner Prima Luce (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose daughter Bloomfield (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was second in this card's feature G3 Give Thanks S. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $15,834. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.