QIPCO British Champion Stakes (Group 1)

THE feature race on Saturday was the QIPCO Champion Stakes, worth £1.36 million this year, and won in typically determined fashion by the monumentally-tough Magical for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien, who justified her even-money SP by beating Addeybb (William Haggas/James Doyle) by three parts of a length, with Deirdre (Mitsuru Hashida/Oisin Murphy) three lengths behind the winner in third.

With Crystal Ocean retired after a gallops injury, and Enable not asked to back-up quickly after her Arc defeat, Magical was presented with an easier opportunity than for most of her races this season.

She took it without fuss despite the margin, moving well close up, and looking in control of the race as soon as she hit the front early in the straight. Despite enduring a really hard race in the Arc at Longchamp, and having gone head-to-head with the best in the world throughout the summer, she still ran right up to her rating to land her fifth pattern race of the season, and her third of seven in Group 1 company since May.

She won’t top the ratings at the end of the season, and lags some way behind the all-time greats on the handicap scale, but she is the living embodiment of courage and consistency, and a reminder that greatness is not measured in stones and pounds, and Aidan O’Brien was fulsome in his praise after the race:

“Magical is the most unbelievable mare I have ever seen. Her mind is incredible. She gets a mile and a half, but I think a mile and a quarter is her ideal trip. The Arc was a strongly run race and she has come out of that and won here. She handles ease in the ground, and goes on fast ground; she is the ultimate racehorse – that is what she is.”

The winner could now go to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and O’Brien hoped that she might stay in training for another year.

James Doyle was pleased with Addeybb’s career-best effort in second, but felt the need to praise the winner’s constitution, remarking:

“It was a lovely run from him, but full credit to the filly – she’s unbelievable to back-up quick after the Arc. Obviously, you are disappointed when you finish second in any big race, but he’s tried his heart out and everything went to plan.”

Haggas, who confirmed that Addeybb stays in training next year, spoke in similar vein, saying: “I thought he put in a great effort but Magical is an exceptional filly. She has shown it all year and is very versatile at every trip and on most ground. Addeybb had conditions in his favour today and has run his guts out.”

Yoshi Hashida, son of Deirdre’s trainer, spoke of how much he had enjoyed Deirdre’s journey in Europe this year, and while she had been expected to retire after this, there was a suggestion that she could possibly stay in training next year, with the possibility of taking on Enable an added incentive for a mare he says has “opened the door to everyone in Japan”.

It’s to be hoped we see more international competitors in the coming years as a result of Deirdre’s feats this summer.