Aidan O'Brien has revealed today that Magical is to be retired from racing.
The four-year-old filly was set to bow out in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Saturday but she did not board the flight to California after spiking a temperature.
The Ballydoyle trainer has confirmed she will now retire from racing, having won nine of her 21 career starts.
The four-year-old has enjoyed a particularly good campaign in 2019 – claiming top-level victories in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Speaking about the decision to retire Magical, O'Brien said the horse's welfare was his number one priority.
“Fifteen minutes after she had done her work this morning, her temperature was slightly raised. She was due to go at 9.30am and her temperature was taken at 9.15am.
“We didn’t want to travel her because when she goes over there, she’d have to go into quarantine. If she did develop anything travelling over, then that would have locked up quarantine.
“We didn’t want to risk her, especially after a long season and on a long journey. Before they travel we always want their temperatures to be 100 percent.”
O'Brien has also spoken highly of her in regards to her achievements and paid tribute to an unprecedented talent.
“The plan is for her to go to No Nay Never. She’s been an unbelievable mare, something you’d never dream of.
“She ran in top-class races at two, three and four and showed that she was better than ever towards the end.
“To win an Irish Champion Stakes, then run in the Arc and come back to win the English Champion Stakes is unprecedented.
“Horses have won both before, but I don’t think they have done it and run in the Arc in between," O'Brien said.
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