Flying The Flag Full Sister Captures 2nd UK Gr1 Victory By 7 Lengths!
Magical, a full sister to Bush Hill Stud’s Flying The Flag, set herself up for a possible trip to Royal Ascot with a dominant display in the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
A winner on Champions Day at Ascot last season, she then pushed Enable all the way at the Breeders’ Cup.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly won her first two races this season in workmanlike fashion, but she looked a different proposition on this occasion.
Ryan Moore tracked Irish St Leger winner and stablemate Flag Of Honour with the three other runners content to sit some way behind the Ballydoyle duo.
Turning into the straight, it soon became clear nothing in behind was making any inroads and when Moore pulled Magical out to challenge, the race was over.
Without resorting to the whip, Magical quickened clear to win by a comfortable seven lengths as the 2-7 favourite.
O’Brien said: “We are delighted to have her as a four-year-old. She’s a big, powerful mare that is full of quality, with great strength and a super mind. She had done enough last year to go off to stud, so it’s a great credit to all the lads to keep her in training.
“The plan made out was the three races and then see about Ascot for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
“There is an autumn campaign and she has to have a break somewhere before maybe the Irish Champion and the Arc. Hopefully she will come out of today well and then we can have a think about Ascot. It’s all stuff to dream about.”
Not only is she a full sister to Flying The Flag, but to champion three-time Gr1 winner Rhododendron, who has been retired to stud at Coolmore.
Flying The Flag has 12 quality yearlings, siblings to multiple winners on offer at the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale, taking place at Sibaya Casino at the beginning of July.
Flying The Flag’s progeny have been snapped up by some of the finest judges of horseflesh in the country at sales earlier this year. Don’t miss out at the KZN Yearling Sale!
