Sixth Group 1 Success For Magical

Magical (5m Galileo - Halfway To Heaven, by Pivotal) gained her sixth Group 1 success when winning back-to-back runnings of the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

An impressive winner of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on her seasonal return last month, she was once again sent off favourite on Sunday, though this time with Wayne Lordan aboard. He rode the bay to make all, pushing her clear as they approached the final furlong and did enough to hold off stablemate Sir Dragonet (Camelot) by two and a quarter lengths on the line. Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Galileo) ran on to take third.

Speaking after the race, Wayne Lordan said, “She's a top-class filly and I'm just delighted to get the ride on her.” Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien later revealed that Magical’s future options include the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.

As well as six Group 1 victories, Magical has captured another four Group contests, while her maiden victory came at the Curragh. Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor, the daughter of Galileo was bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt out of Halfway To Heaven, herself a three-time Group 1 winner for the same connections.