Magical Out of Breeders' Cup With Temperature, Retired

There will be no stateside swansong for Magical in the Breeders' Cup World Championships as Aidan O'Brien has confirmed the exceptionally durable filly is to be retired after running a temperature ahead of her intended departure for Santa Anita Park the morning of Oct. 28.

O'Brien also revealed that Fairyland, who was due to vie for a third top-level success in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), did not travel to California either.

Although Magical lived in the shadow of Enable for much of her career, she has been a brilliantly consistent flagbearer for Ballydoyle over the past couple of seasons.

She won four group 1s and arguably saved her best for last, delivering O'Brien a belated first triumph in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance, G1) on Oct. 19 when knuckling down in typically game style to fend off Addeybb in testing ground.

Just a fortnight earlier, she had cut out much of the running in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) before fading into fifth, having run out a decisive victor of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) prior to that.

"Magical spiked a slight temperature this morning so she hasn't traveled to America," O'Brien said Monday. "She worked this morning and we were delighted with her but we take their temperatures every day.

"She was due to leave at 9:30 and this happened at around 9:15, so our vet John Halley advised that she shouldn't travel. John felt that if she was to go through quarantine it could risk the whole thing being locked up because of it.

"Everything had been going well since Ascot, we were very happy with her, but it's just one of those things."

Magical was narrowly denied a group 1 win as a juvenile when chinned by stablemate Happily in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), and as a 3-year-old her classic prospects were undone by injury. She ran in none of the showpiece events for her generation, but made up for lost time when landing the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) before playing her part in an epic duel with Enable in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

At the death, she lost out by three-parts of a length, and got to within the same distance of Khalid Abdullah's star in this year's Coral-Eclipse (G1) before again pushing her hardest in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1).

"She got very close to Enable a couple of times, and we all felt she had moved up a gear again this year," O'Brien said of the daughter of Galileo, who will be covered by No Nay Never next year. "She has been an unbelievable filly.

"She was so game, so consistent, and so classy. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have anything to do with her."

Asked about her highlights, O'Brien added: "The two Champion Stakes wins were great. She won the Irish race then ran in the Arc and did it in the race at Ascot, so they were special."

Last year's Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) heroine Fairyland enhanced her CV when just holding off So Perfect in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend. O'Brien had already indicated she was likely to be covered by Galileo in the spring.

Of her aborted U.S. venture, he said: "She didn't pass her trot-up for John (Halley) and he felt she wouldn't get through when inspected by the veterinary panel. She is going to be covered by Galileo."

Magical was pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Turf and Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), with first preference in the Turf. O'Brien is left with Anthony Van Dyke and Mount Everest in the Turf, and with Fleeting and Just Wonderful in the Filly & Mare Turf.

O'Brien confirmed Ryan Moore will ride most of the team's runners, with Wayne Lordan on the second strings.

However, with Lordan due to partner Iridessa for Joseph O'Brien in the Filly & Mare Turf, William Buick has been drafted in for Just Wonderful.

"Seamie Heffernan isn't going to ride there because of the lighter weights," O'Brien said.