By Lynne Snierson
Magic Wand – Photo courtesy of Coolmore.com
Coolmore’s brilliant international star mare, last seen running second in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) on Dec. 8, returns to South Florida for another try at the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). This time, trainer Aidan O’Brien doesn’t have Bricks and Mortar to contend with.
Magic Wand was the runner-up in 2019 to the expected Horse of the Year, and also finished second to Bricks and Mortar in the Arlington Million (G1) in August.
O’Brien has never been shy about running the girls against the boys, and Magic Wand is the only female in the expected full field of 12. Even so, she is by far the biggest earner, having bankrolled $4,146,829.
Though she has won just three times in her 22-race career, throughout the years the Ireland-bred mare has competed all over the globe against the world’s best and been second a total of eight times. In 2019 alone she racked up a plethora of frequent flyer miles, making 12 starts in six different countries.
“She’s just unbelievable,” O’Brien said following her narrow defeat to Japanese star Win Bright in the Hong Kong Cup at 1¼ miles last month. “She’s done plenty of traveling and has been very consistent.”
In the Hong Kong Cup Magic Wand was always close while saving ground but was stopped behind rivals mid-stretch, lost momentum, then missed by only a short head when regular rider Ryan Moore finally found space between rivals. She was gaining ground quickly inside the leader through the final strides.
“She ran super,” said Moore, who is slated to be aboard for the World Cup Turf. “She was unlucky. She’s very game.”
Two starts back Magic Wand took the Seppelt MacKinnon Stakes (G1) in Melbourne, Australia, only four days after competing in the Melbourne Cup (G1) on the same Flemington Racecourse lawn.
Magic Wand
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Owners: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier
Career record: 22 3-8-2
Career earnings: $4,146,829
Pedigree: Galileo)-Prudenzia, by Dansili
Age: 5
Running style: Versatile. Able to stay on pace, rate behind speed, or close
Handicapping Insights:
“Globetrotting Irish mare is classiest horse in field.” – Ed McNamara
“World traveler commands respect but wins have been too few and too far between (1-for-her-last 17, all G1s) … unlikely to be big enough price because of connections.” – Noel Michaels
Notes: Royally bred, she is the daughter of Coolmore’s horse of a lifetime Galileo out of a Dansili mare and was a $1,562,820 yearling purchase at the Arquana Deauville August sale, and even at that price is proven to be a bargain … Galileo, a European champion during his racing career, has been the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland 11 years, including 2019 … With her November score in Australia, Magic Wand became Galileo’s 84th Group/Grade 1 winner, tying him with Danehill for the most in history … Aidan O’Brien is the private trainer for the world’s leading racing/breeding operation, Coolmore, and is based at their Ballydoyle headquarters in Ireland … O’Brien indicated that following the Pegasus Turf the mare may take the same road to Dubai as last year to compete in either the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) or the Dubai Turf (G1). She was fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2019.
| Horse | Owner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Office | Amerman Racing | Brian Lynch |
| Arklow | Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, Peter Coneway | Brad Cox |
| Channel Cat | Calumet Farm | Todd Pletcher |
| Henley’s Joy | Bloom Racing Stable | Michael Maker |
| Instilled Regard | OXO Equine | Chad Brown |
| Magic Wand | Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier | Aidan O’Brien |
| Mo Forza | Bardy Farm, OG Boss | Peter Mille |
| Next Shares | Debby Baltas, Richard Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, Mark Taylor |
Richard Baltas |
| Sacred Life | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, Bethlehem Stables | Chad Brown |
| Sadler’s Joy | Woodslane Farm | Tom Albertrani |
| Without Parole | John D. Gunther, Tanya Gunther | Chad Brown |
| Zulu Alpha | Michael Hui | Michael Maker |
| Horse | Owner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| American Tattoo | Calumet Farm, John Anthony Stables | Todd Pletcher |
| Mr. Misunderstood | Flurry Racing Stables | Brad Cox |
| Synchrony | Pin Oak Stable | Michael Stidham |
| Tusk | Jordan V. Wycoff | Saffie Joseph, Jr. |
