Star mare Magical retired by Aidan O’Brien after picking up temperature

MAGICAL, sensational winner of both a Champion Stakes and an Irish Champion Stakes, has been retired.

Aidan O’Brien called time on the brilliant mare’s career after it was revealed she’d picked up a temperature.

A trip to the Breeders’ Cup had been on the agenda for the star four-year-old later this week, but those plans have now been shelved.

Winner of four Group 1 contests, the daughter of Galileo finished off her wonderful career in style at Ascot earlier this month, gamely denying her rivals to land the Champion Stakes.

Hailed as ‘the most unbelievable mare I’ve ever seen’ by trainer Aidan O’Brien, her CV this season also included an Irish Champion Stakes victory and a Tattersalls Gold Cup success.

Although put in her place by Enable on numerous occasions, she was at times the only horse with the ability to challenge John Gosden’s superstar – notably in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf and this season’s Coral-Eclipse.

Her trainer said: “Magical spiked a slight temperature this morning so she hasn’t travelled to America. She worked this morning and we were delighted with her but we take their temperatures every day. She was due to leave at 9.30 and this happened at around 9.15, so our vet John Halley advised that she shouldn’t travel.

“She has been an unbelievable filly. She was so game, so consistent and so classy. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have anything to do with her.”

One of the most consistent mares there’s every been at the top level (she finished outside the places just six times), a long and fruitful career at stud now awaits.