Koukash hoping Circle can weave his Magic once again
Former Chester Cup hero Magic Circle will be in the care of Richard Fahey this season after moving from Ian Williams.
The Dr Marwan Koukashowned eight-year-old shot to prominence in the big handicap on the Roodee in 2018 and added the Group Three Henry II Stakes afterwards in emphatic fashion, before being put away for a Melbourne Cup bid.
That was to end in disappointmentashefinisheddown thefieldbehindCrossCounter, withtheMakfigeldingfoundto have burst a blood vessel during the race.
Explaining the switch, Koukash told Sky Sports Racing: "It's just a change of scenery. He's in good shape and I was really looking forward to running him in the Chester Cup.
"He's in really good form.
Richard thinks a lot of him, he had fitness issues last year but he is back to his best and I was genuinely looking forward to seeing him run."
On the decision to swerve the 2018 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Koukash said: "We decided to save him and protect his handicapmark-hadhegoneto the Gold Cup and won it then you'd probably have no chance ofwinningtheMelbourneCup, as you'd carry a lot of weight as a result. So we decided to protect him and to me it was more important to try to win the Melbourne Cup than Gold Cup, with all due respect to the Gold Cup."
Meanwhile, Sylvester Kirk can look forward to stable stalwart Salouen flying the flag for his Lambourn yard again this year.
The six-year-old has performed with great credit in a host of big races over the last fewyears,pushingCracksman toaheadintheCoronationCup in 2018 and finishing third to DefoeintheEpsomshowpiece 12 months ago.
Hewasalsobeatenlessthan four lengths when sixth in Enable's second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he might even have been a place or two closer with a bit better luck in running.
Kirk said: "He's had time off from his injury, he's recovered wellandbasicallybeenstarted back the last five or six weeks, slow away and slow build up. All's good with him.
"There's no rush, it's been a bonus as far as he's concerned having that extra little bit of time. It's just a case of finding the right ground for him and minding him - his best performances have been on softer ground. That was the key to his big run when he finished second to Cracksman.”