MAGICAL raised a glass to an absence friend to lead home an Aidan O’Brien 1-2-3 in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Ryan Moore’s mount had finished second to Enable in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park and Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire on her last two starts.
But, with her old rival safely housed in Newmarket, Magical justified 11-10 favouritism with a two-and-a-quarter-length supremacy over stable-companion Magic Wand, with Ballydoyle’s Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck making the podium in third.
“Obviously, Enable is a great filly and when we saw her running that well against her, we were looking forward to this race,” said O’Brien, now plotting another head-to-head with Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on 6 October.
“She’s a very exciting filly and it’s something great to have to think about,” added the trainer.
O’Brien had to give best to son Joseph in the other Group 1 event on the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend as Iridessa fended off Hermosa for the Matron Stakes.
