Irish Champion Score Prepares Magical to Tackle Enable

Connections of Sea The Stars and Frankel know that Aidan O'Brien likes to ensure the road to greatness is paved with Ballydoyle landmines, so Enable can expect to feel the full might of Rosegreen force when she seeks to carve her own bit of history at ParisLongchamp next month.

Magical, second in three successive group 1s coming here, did what was expected of her in justifying 11-10 favoritism to secure her third top-level triumph in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1).

The Sept. 14 race served as a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, awarding Magical an automatic berth in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. The Galileo filly was a gallant second to Enable in that event at Churchill Downs in 2018, and finds the World Championships on her radar again.

Positioned close to the pace set by stablemate Hunting Horn, the game 4-year-old was sent about her business early in the Leopardstown straight by Ryan Moore before quickening away decisively to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths.

O'Brien had been eight years searching for his eighth winner of the race, while he was also securing an eighth success for the filly. He did it in typically emphatic style, saddling the first three home in the €1.25 million affair, a feat he first achieved in 2007.

Magic Wand kept on to be second, with Investec Derby (G1) winner Anthony Van Dyck returning to something like his best to hold on for third. His handler indicated he would likely stay in training next year.

The Japanese challenger Deirdre didn't get the clearest passage in the straight before flashing home for fourth. 

It was the perfect outcome in so many ways for the Coolmore battalion, but in the debrief, you could sense O'Brien remains determined to keep Enable honest.

Japan is already bound for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on the first weekend in October, and Magical is being brought to the boil for a second stab at the race after finishing 10th a year ago. She was cut to 6-1 third favorite from 14-1 by Paddy Power for the autumn showpiece.

"We're delighted," O'Brien admitted. "She had a midsummer break and had her first run back in York. We knew there when she ran Enable to a couple of lengths, knowing that she was going to come forward for it, that she was going to be in good shape for today."

O'Brien was responsible for the runners-up against Sea The Stars and Frankel an aggregate 10 times. He has already saddled the horse to get closest to the mighty Enable six times, with Magical responsible for three of those thankless chores in group/grade 1s.

The perennial champion trainer remains full of respect for Khalid Abdullah's latest superstar but won't hand her any freebies.

"Obviously, it's important when the best horses are around that they run against each other whenever they can, and there is no sidestepping anyone," he said after producing the first home-based winner of the Irish Champion Stakes since 2011.

"That's what makes racing. Everyone wants to see the good horses running against each other—win, lose, or draw."

O'Brien also raised the prospect of Anthony Van Dyck joining Magical on the plane to Santa Anita after he left his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) flop behind.

"It was great to see him come back like that," he said. "He could go straight to the Breeders' Cup now. He is in the Arc, but he could go straight to America, and the lads said they might keep him in training next year, which would be very exciting for us."