Magical hits double top with brave win
Magical’s battling victory in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday propelled her to the top of the rankings in both the Horse Of The Year and Older Horse categories. It was her second Group One victory of the season.
Magical has yet to finish out of the first two in seven starts in 2019 and now heads for a rematch with old rival Enable (128), who has beaten her on all three occasions they have met, in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe on Oct 6.
Stradivarius maintained his domination of the staying ranks with an easy victory in last week’s Doncaster Cup. He could yet challenge for the Horse Of The Year award as he heads for Champions Day at Ascot next month.
While Stradivarius is assured of topping the staying division, there is a tight race to be crowned the leading three-year-old colt. Too Darn Hot, who is retired, is clinging to his lead but Japan is hot on his heels and he too heads for the Arc.
Hermosa leads the race to be top three-year-old filly and helped her cause when chasing home Iridessa in Saturday’s Matron Stakes but the real mover was Prix Vermeille winner Star Catcher, who is now up to second.
There was plenty of two-year-old action to savour last week both at Doncaster and in Ireland. Pinatubo scorched to a nine-length victory in the National Stakes at the Curragh and now shares top billing in the colt’s category with Flying Childers winner A’ali and Champagne Stakes victor Threat. A’ali will head to the Breeders’ Cup while Pinatubo and Threat could clash in the Dewhurst Stakes.
Love moved into contention for this year’s two-year-old filly award with a narrow victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. The Mark Johnston-trained Raffle Prize leads the category.