Magic Wand Aimed for Pegasus World Cup Turf
Image:
Description:
Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
Magic Wand trains in Hong Kong Dec. 5 prior to her runner-up finish in the Hong Kong Cup
Her 2019 season was a non-stop whirlwind featuring 12 starts in six different countries and this year may be no different for Magic Wand, a mare trainer Aidan O'Brien described as "just unbelievable" in the wake of her narrow defeat to Japanese star Win Bright in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) last month.
Barely have the candles been blown out on her fifth birthday cake and Magic Wand is being prepared for a return to Gulfstream Park to begin her 2020 campaign in familiar surroundings on Pegasus World Cup day.
The daughter of Galileo found only future Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) hero Bricks and Mortar too strong in the inaugural turf event on the card some 12 months ago and, although she also features among the invitations for both that race and the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Presented by Runhappy (G1) on dirt, O'Brien intends to stick to the grass with Magic Wand in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Presented by Runhappy (G1T).
"The plan is to send her to Gulfstream for the same race she ran second in last year," O'Brien said Monday. "She's done plenty of travelling and has been very consistent."
Video: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. (G1T)
Magic Wand showed her liking for the U.S. twice more in 2019, finishing a narrow third in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in May, while she again ran into Bricks and Mortar when second in August's Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T).
Her ultimate reward for the year came in landing the Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes (G1)—just four days after running 10th in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)—before heading to Sha Tin, where she narrowly failed to reel in Win Bright.
The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream Park, has scrapped the buy-in fees for its two marquee races and has issued 17 invitations in total for the Pegasus World Cup Turf, including former John Gosden runner Without Parole, third in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) on his U.S. debut for trainer Chad Brown.
Magic Wand's owners, Coolmore, recently bought a half-share in Maximum Security, according to co-owner and breeder Gary West. Maximum Security is one of three marquee names among the initial invites for the Pegasus World Cup, though he is expected to race in the inaugural Saudi Cup, a $20 million race scheduled Feb. 29—a race also being targeted by Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) runner-up McKinzie.
Despite being disqualified for interference after passing the post in front in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Maximum Security has three grade 1 wins.
Omaha Beach , last-out winner of the Malibu Stakes (G1), is the anticipated Pegasus favorite.