Magical to Begin Season in Pretty Polly Stakes

Magical is a four-time group 1 winner but without the daunting presence of Enable, she would have seven top-level victories on her CV and be regarded as the best female of her generation.

She might not be as good as Enable but she is an extremely talented mare who bids for success in the June 28 Alwaysmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), 254 days after concluding her 4-year-old career with a gutsy triumph in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.

The ratings would suggest this is a straightforward task for Magical. A mark of 122 puts her eight pounds clear of stablemate Fleeting, while she has 12 pounds in hand on Cayenne Pepper and True Self. 

The question for punters is trying to decide how fit she will be for her return. She was a cozy winner of the Alleged Stakes (G3) at Naas on her first start at 4, so we know she goes well fresh, but stablemate Fleeting has already had her cobwebs blown away in the Coolmore Magna Grecia Irish EBF Mooresbridge (G2) when second. 

Fleeting has not won since winning the William Hill May Hill (G2) at Doncaster in September 2018, but she was third in last year's Investec Oaks (G1), second in the Kerrygold Irish Oaks (G1), and filled the same position in the Ribblesdale (G2) at Royal Ascot.

She is a talented filly when things fall into place, but this small field may not play to her strengths. She is best with cover and when produced late so Wayne Lordan's task will not be easy.

"We're delighted to have Magical returning for another year and she seems to be in very good form," said Aidan O'Brien, who trains Magical and Fleeting. "Fleeting is good too. She was unlucky in a few big races last year, but has always been very consistent. She's in good form at home and ran well in the Mooresbridge on her first start back."

Cayenne Pepper is being geared up for a tilt at the Irish Oaks in a fortnight so anything she achieves against her elders here will be a learning curve.

"It's great to get her back to the track. She's been showing me a lot more spark in the last week and I've been very happy with how she's progressing," said trainer Jessica Harrington. "It's obviously a big ask throwing her straight into a group 1 but that's just the way it is. The Irish Oaks is the aim a fortnight from now and hopefully this will leave her spot on for that.

The globetrotting True Self has been to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Sha Tin in Hong Kong, and Flemington in Australia for her last three outings so this is a rare start on home soil.

She kept progressing last season but has she progressed enough to trouble Magical? Probably not.

"It's a very hot race and, while it's only a small field, I'd be delighted if she managed to finish in the first three and picked up a share of the prize-money. The trip should be fine for her," said trainer Willie Mullins.

The quintet is completed by the recent Gowran Park maiden winner Roca Roma, but this represents a sharp rise in class for the Ger Lyons-trained filly. She would be a shock winner.

Magical is the star of this particular show and, provided she is pretty close to match fit, she should get the job done. Her ability to adapt tactically could be the key.