Magical proved a class with a victory from the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly has spent a lot of her commendable profession thus far chasing the Permit at the best level – but on her CV, she now includes three Group One wins after this two-and-a-quarter-length success.
The favourite had a fantasy passage, then and closest to the pace determined by stablemate Hunting Horn producing far too much rate for all those in behind once Ryan Moore committed in the straight.
Two from the O’Brien team chased her house, with Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Magic Wand moment another venture away in third – in 20-1 and 12-1 respectively.
Japanese mare Deirdre has been the unlucky horse in the race, trapped for racing room when the pace quickened and staying best to finish .
However there was no stopping Magical, who was a trendy winner because she took good great advantage of Enable’s absence for once, in the process earning herself quotes of 6-1 out of 14-1 in Paddy Power and Betfair, should she try to shoot on John Gosden’s mare again in next month Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
O’Brien explained:»We were delighted. She’d a midsummer break and her very first run back was at York. Permit conducted and then we knew she was going to come a bit ahead.
«»She was just prepared to go to York. Obviously Permit is a terrific filly and if we found her running that well against her we had been looking forward to this race and the autumn then.
«We knew that she was likely to be in real good shape for today and I could not have been more happy with her.
«She’s a beautiful filly. We know she receives a half and the mile and manages an ease from the floor, she was back today on ground that is fast and Ryan gave her a beautiful, simple ride.
«She had really come forward from York. Quickened the way she did and went like this, Ryan stated she doesn’t do much before and she came out, she is a filly.
«This was the next race of her fall campaign program and she is really something to look forward to.
«The plan was to go to the Arc from here, but normally what happens is that we determine how they come out of it, speak with the lads and they find out if they stay about the programme or move another way.
«It is something great to have to think about.»