Magician pulls it out of hat and now it’s all systems go for Tattersalls Gold Cup

Aidan O'Brien plans to follow a tried and tested route with Magician after the dual Group One winner left it late to claim the High Chaparral European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

The master of Ballydoyle had saddled the previous four winners of the Group Three contest in Fame And Glory, So You Think, Windsor Palace and Camelot.

Fame And Glory and So You Think returned to the track to win the Tattersalls Gold Cup on their next start, and O’Brien is confident there is plenty of improvement in Magician ahead of his tilt at the same Group One prize on May 25th.

Winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Breeders’ Cup Turf as a three-year-old, Magician finished a slightly disappointing sixth on his return in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in late March.

Sent off a 2/13 favourite for his return to Irish action, the Galileo colt was settled at the rear of a five-runner field by the trainer’s son, Joseph, and still had plenty of work to do at the top of the home straight.

Jim Bolger’s 2011 Dewhurst winner Parish Hall, disappointing in two previous starts this year, set sail a over a furlong out and for a brief moment it looked as though the bird had flown.

However, Magician eventually found top gear and wore him down to take the Group Three prize by a neck. O'Brien snr said: "I nearly got a heart attack looking at him (before the race). He was away in Dubai and things didn't go right for him. We gave him a little rest and he had a good tummy on him today.

'Good place'
"He's going to come back here for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He's in a good place now and Joseph was very happy and said he won snug."

Magician’s triumph was the second leg of a double on the afternoon for the O’Brien team, with The Great War remaining on course for Royal Ascot after making it two from two in effortless fashion in the Most Improved European Breeders Fund Race.

Following an impressive debut at Tipperary almost a fortnight ago, the War Front colt was the 1/9 favourite for his second start over five furlongs and blew his opponents away, coming home three lengths clear of Bwana without being extended.

“I’m delighted with that. He’s fast and he’s made a lovely progression from Tipperary,” said the Ballydoyle handler. “He could come back here for the Marble Hill Stakes.”