Placed in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfdtream Park, Irish Champion Stakes., Longchamp Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opera, Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes Arlington Million Stakes., Belmont Man o' War Stakes and fourth in the MVRC WS Cox Plate Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and The Oaks, Galileo’s remarkable daughter Magic Wand (IRE) finally had her day in the sun in the $2 million Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Backing up from her tenth place finish in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, Magic Wand (IRE) ounder Ryan Moore broke a few hearts when she eased passed Godolphin’s retiring champion Hartnell in the straight before holding the challenge of the New Zealand Horse Of The Year Melody Belle (Commands) by a length with Hartnell (Authorized) a short-head back in third.
Aidan O’Brien’s stable representative TJ Comerford said the 5yo daughter of Galileo would be kept in training next year.
“I told Aidan that she ate up well the morning after the Melbourne Cup because we had to nominate on the Wednesday, so Aidan said if she has eaten up and looks well let her run, so it wasn't unexpected.
That was her third run (in Australia) now and that's the best ground she's been on here.
"I think after the Melbourne Cup there was plenty of life in her, she still had the gas.”
Ryan Moore said few were more deserving of a Group 1.
“She’s a wonderful mare who has been very unfortunate not to win a Group 1 before today,” More said.
“I think Galileo may have now broken the record for Group 1 winners, they are just so tough these horses.
“She’s run in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup and she’s come out again, all you can say she is tough, courageous high-class mare.”
Winner of the Group II Royal Ascot Ribblesdale Stakes and Listed Chester Cheshire Oaks, Magic Wand (IRE) is a half-sister to Chiquita (Montjeu) the Champion 3YO Filly in Ireland in 2013 and Champion Older Female in Ireland in 2014 (Long), who won the Group 1 Irish Oaks and Group 1 Prix de Diane and is a sister to the stakes-placed Je Ne Regretterien.
Magic Wand becomes the 84th individual Group/Grade 1 winner for
Galileo, equalling the record set by his former Coolmore barnmate Danehill.
