By Tom Frary
The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup has been under the European Pattern Committee's scrutiny for a while and despite the obvious merit of Sunday's winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) it remains a matter of conjecture as to whether it deserves its status. The scene turning into the straight said it all, as Ballydoyle's star filly tracked stablemate Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in clear isolation from their three outclassed rivals. Mastering her leadhorse two out, the 2-7 favourite was sent clear by Ryan Moore to record an impressive seven-length success and add to her Apr. 13 G3 Alleged S. and May 6 G2 Mooresbridge S. wins. “She was very good at the end of last year and she stepped up again,” Moore said of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up. “I'm delighted with the way she is progressing with her runs and is one of those for the end of the year.”
Magical now leaves connections with a quandary regarding Royal Ascot or a summer break. “We are delighted to have her as a four-year-old,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “She's a big, powerful mare that is full of quality, with great strength and a super mind. She had done enough last year to go off to stud, so it's a great credit to all the lads to keep her in training. The plan made out was the three races and then see about Ascot for the [June 19 G1] Prince of Wales's Stakes. There is an autumn campaign and she has to have a break somewhere before maybe the Irish Champion and the Arc. Hopefully she will come out of today well and then we can have a think about Ascot.”
Magical, whose course wins include the G2 Debutante S. and G3 Kilboy Estate S., is a full-sister to the G1 Lockinge S., G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Rhododendron (Ire) out of Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who also took this Classic and the G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. Out of the top-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) descended from the matriarch Rahaam (Secreto), if she heads to Royal Ascot she will do so along with her relative, the Gold Cup contender Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Halfway To Heaven's 2-year-old filly also by Galileo is named Heaven of Heavens (Ire), while she has a 2019 colt again by that sire.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 5-26, 4yo/up, 10f 110yT, 2:13.85, g/f.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €236,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire & GISP-US, 15-7-3-0, $1,860,273. *Full to Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,786,763; and Flying The Flag (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flag of Honour (Ire), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Mustajeer (GB), 129, g, 6, Medicean (GB)–Qelaan, by Dynaformer. (50,000gns 4yo '17 TATJUL). O-David Spratt; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €40,000.
Margins: 7, 4 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.25, 4.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Zihba (Ire), Verbal Dexterity (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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