World Traveler Magic Wand Retired After Foot Abscess

Group 1-winning globetrotter Magic Wand has been retired after a foot abscess ruled her out of running at the spring carnival in Melbourne.

Winner of the Seppelt MacKinnon Stakes (G1) in Australia last year, Magic Wand was a late withdrawal from the Cox Plate (G1) last weekend, and attempts to drain the abscess have proven unsuccessful since.

TJ Comerford, traveling foreman for trainer Aidan O'Brien, told Racing.com: "She got a foot abscess and it's one of those we can't get at. We're trying to draw it out but it doesn't seem to want to release and we think it's going to burst out of the coronary band. It's just bad luck.

"She's going to be retired and go to (the breeding shed). She's a very good filly. She's been everywhere and has always been a very good mare."

There was no one happier than Yvonne Zuerche when Magic Wand won her first Group 1 in the 2019 Mackinnon Stakes.

The globetrotting mare has now been retired, congratulations to all on her fantastic career. ❤️ @FlemingtonVRC @RacingInsider @WHR pic.twitter.com/4g3aw2gaAI

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 29, 2020

A €1.4 million (US$1,562,820) yearling purchase by the Coolmore partners, Magic Wand was a regular in major international races having contested prizes in America, Australia, France, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia as well as in Britain and Ireland.

Her finest moment came when winning the Mackinnon Stakes under Ryan Moore last year, just four days after finishing tenth in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1). She went on to be touched off by a short head in the Hong Kong Cup as well as competing in contests such as the Saudi Cup, the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes presented by Runhappy (G1T), and the Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Longines (G1).

A statement from Coolmore on Twitter said: "Following a foot abscess as she prepared for a second tilt at the MacKinnon, Magic Wand has been retired and will join our broodmare band in Ireland.

"She has been a wonderful mare for Coolmore and our partners and much loved by her strapper Yvonne."

Magic Wand, a 5-year-old daughter of Galileo,  raced 28 times, winning four races and hitting the board in a further 11. In total, she collected £3,705,970 (US$4,798,323) in prize-money.

She raced five times in the U.S., placing second in consecutive editions of the Pegasus World Cup Turf in 2019-20, recording another second in the Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T) in 2019, a third in that year's Man o' War Stakes (G1T), and a fourth in the 2018 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).