By Tom Frary
It may have lacked the pizzazz of her seasonal bow in the G3 Alleged S., but the performance of Ballydoyle's Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Monday's G2 Coolmore Highland Reel Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh was nevertheless ample to continue her winning run as bigger tests approach. Again following the solid tempo set by stablemate Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as she had in that Apr. 13 Naas contest, the 2-9 favourite was nudged to the front by Ryan Moore approaching the furlong pole. While she did not open up this time, she still had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over the 2018 G1 Irish St Leger hero at the line with the race's eye-catcher The King (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) a neck away in third.
Magical was campaigned in the manner of one of her stable's best juveniles, winning the G2 Debutante S. and finishing second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., so it was a surprise that she went to ParisLongchamp last spring for the G3 Prix de la Grotte. Only fourth tried in blinkers there, she had turned things around by the end of May and was training like the yard's number one for the G1 Epsom Oaks only for injury to intervene. From her re-entry when successful in the nine-furlong G3 Kilboy Estate S. here in July, it has been a case of building back to where connections believed she would be and that was achieved with a win in the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot and second to Enable (Ire) (Nathaniel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup back at this venue May 26 is next up for Magical and her trainer said, “She's coming along lovely. They went a good gallop–Seamus [Heffernan] didn't dawdle around in front and there were three group one winners in the race, plus Jessie's horse is decent as well. Flag of Honour is getting his act together. The reason we were a bit hard on him last year was because he acted up in France last year, so we just had to wake him up a bit. He'll be better again when he goes up in trip again to a mile and a half plus. The [May 31 G1] Coronation Cup could be a possibility, but we will see how Kew Gardens gets on first [in the G3 Ormonde S. at Chester on Thursday].”
After producing the G1 Lockinge S., G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Fillies' Mile-winning Rhododendron (Ire) and this filly back-to-back, it is fair to say that the debut of the 2-year-old filly by Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) named Heaven of Heavens (Ire) also by Galileo will be keenly anticipated. It is impossible to overstate the significance of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine's standing amongst Coolmore's enviable broodmare band and her third colt was born this year again by the number one sire. The incredible family of the high-class Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and her dam Rahaam (Secreto) keeps churning out horses that make a real difference and next month it could have a G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner to boast of if the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) can keep his run going.
Monday, The Curragh, Ireland
COOLMORE HIGHLAND REEL IRISH EBF MOORESBRIDGE S.-G2, €130,000, Curragh, 5-6, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.19, g/y.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 129, 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. €76,700. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire & GISP-US, 14-6-3-0, $1,595,764. *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), 132, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,700.
3–The King (Ire), 129, c, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Catch the Moon (Ire), by Peintre Celebre. (120,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; 140,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Mill House LLC; B-Longueville Bloodstock & Matrix Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,700.
Margins: 1HF, NK, NK. Odds: 0.20, 5.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Latrobe (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
COOLMORE HIGHLAND REEL IRISH EBF MOORESBRIDGE S.-G2, €130,000, Curragh, 5-6, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.19, g/y.
1–MAGICAL (IRE), 129, 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. €76,700. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire & GISP-US, 14-6-3-0, $1,595,764. *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), 132, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,700.
3–The King (Ire), 129, c, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Catch the Moon (Ire), by Peintre Celebre. (120,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; 140,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Mill House LLC; B-Longueville Bloodstock & Matrix Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,700.
Margins: 1HF, NK, NK. Odds: 0.20, 5.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Latrobe (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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