Magical looks ready to land Ascot feature

RACING: O’Brien’s charge has proved her class in warm up races this season

MAGICAL heads into the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on a winning roll and she can rise to the challenge again in the feature event on day two of Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge arrives with plenty of match practice under her belt, having won each of her three starts so far this term.

Graduating from Group Three glory on her return in April to top-level gold on her most recent start, via a Group Two verdict, Magical should certainly be well primed for today’s 10-furlong heat.

While she may not have beaten much in those three outings, with her Tattersalls Gold Cup win especially facile, Magical showed she is well up to this level last year.

Winner of the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day, she went on to run Enable close at the Breeders’ Cup meeting, beaten just three-quarters of a length, with the first two well clear.

She appeared to be simply outbattled that day and, having had all her warm-up runs over 10 furlongs this year, Magical has proved this could well be her optimum distance.

NATE THE GREAT has been off the track since May, but connections’ patience can pay dividends in the Queen’s Vase.

Archie Watson’s colt was beaten just a neck in the Chesham at this meeting last year, before going on to contest a handful of other Listed prizes without actually getting his head in front.

The fact he finished his juvenile campaign over 10 furlongs indicated his staying potential, with the son of Nathaniel being pitched into the Lingfield Derby Trial on his return.

Obviously the merit of his four-length third behind Anthony Van Dyck is there for all to see, but it was particularly pleasing to see how he stayed on at the finish on his seasonal bow.

Switching up to a mile and six furlongs is obviously an unknown, but his Lingfield outing promised plenty.

Picture: PA. Circus Maximus, a 10-1 shot ridden by jockey Ryan Moore, on the way to winning yesterday’s St James’s Palace Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien on the opening day of Royal Ascot.