Magical and Fleeting possibles for Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – Racing TV

Plans for Magical remain undecided as connections weigh up another Breeders’ Cup run for their Champion Stakes victor.

The four-year-old claimed her third Group One of the year as she saw off Addeybb by three-quarters of a length at Ascot on Saturday, supplementing her win in the Irish Champion Stakes last month.

Magical contested the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, finding only Enable too good, but she would be most likely to tackle the Filly & Mare Turf on November 2 if she heads to Santa Anita – because stablemate and Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is pencilled in for the other race.

Watch again how magical prevailed at Ascot

Trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We will decide whether Magical goes to the Breeders’ Cup or not. We’ll see what the lads (owners Coolmore) want to do with her. It will probably be the Filly & Mare if she does go, because Anthony Van Dyck is in the Turf.”

O’Brien may have a second string to his bow in the 10-furlong distaff event – with Fleeting, who finished fourth in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, also in the mix.

He added: “Fleeting was coming there lovely, but the gap closed in on her. She was a little unlucky. We’ll see how she is, and she could go for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare as well.”

O’Brien does not envisage another outing this term for Kew Gardens after he bounced back to his best when ending Stradivarius’ 10-race unbeaten run in the Long Distance Cup.

He added: “I wouldn’t say Kew Gardens will race again this year, but we hope he will race next year. I thought Donnacha gave him an unbelievable ride.”

O’Brien believes Ten Sovereigns failed to handle the bend at Randwick racecourse as he finished last of 12 runners in The Everest.

The July Cup winner was partnered by Ryan Moore in Saturday’s six-furlong heat, which boasts a first prize in excess of £3.6million, but he was beaten five and a half lengths by winner Yes Yes Yes.

Ten Sovereigns had not raced around a bend before lining up at the Sydney venue, and O’Brien felt the lack of experience perhaps told as he stayed on again in the straight.

He said: “Ten Sovereigns got a little bit lost on the bend. It was all new to him, and they are probably more professional sprinters there around a bend.

“We haven’t decided whether we will go down to Melbourne with him or not. He was about three or four lengths detached coming out of the bend, but he closed in behind them up the straight.”

O’Brien is also mapping out his challenge for next Saturday’s final Group One of the British season – the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

The Ballydoyle handler is eyeing the mile event for Leopardstown Group Two scorer Mogul and Beresford Stakes winner Innisfree. He added: “Mogul and Innisfree look like our two horses for Doncaster next week.”