Galileo was expected to sire the winner of the Group III Flame of Tara Stakes (1m) at the Curragh overnight with race favourite Albula, a daughter of Australian Group III winner Dawn Wall, but that filly had to settle for second with victory going to the Yulong owned Magical Lagoon.
Trained by Jessica Harrington, Magical Lagoon was determined at the finish to defeat Albula by three-quarters of a length with Shane Foley in the saddle.
Magical Lagoon was having just her second start having finished fourth to Albula on debut at Naas at the start of the month.
“She needed the mile and stayed on very strongly,” Jessica Harrington.
“She’ll probably have just one more run this year. She’s in the Fillies’ Mile (G1) and she might just go for that. She’s going to be a mile-and-a-half filly next year.
“She was just a bit clueless the last day (in Naas). She’s a lovely filly and I’m delighted for Mr Zhang who now has a Group-winning two-year-old this year.”
Magical Lagoon was bought as a yearling from Tattersalls October for 305,000 guineas by BBA Ireland/ Yulong and is a half-sister to Champion German 3YO and four time Group I winner Novellist.
She is the 12th winner from 12 to race from outstanding producer Night Lagoon, the Champion German 2YO Filly in 2003.
Magical Lagoon is the 342nd stakes-winner world wide for the late Galileo, who has two champion sons at stud in Australia that will have their first runners this season in Churchill (IRE) and Highland Reel (IRE).
