Magician flaunts his power in Irish Two Thousand Guineas

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Magician, who had shown a devastating burst of

speed in the about 1 5/16-mile Dee Stakes at Chester last out, deployed that

same weapon when shortening up to a mile in Saturday's Group 1 Irish Two

Thousand Guineas at the Curragh.

Although the Galileo colt was somewhat surprisingly left in this classic

after capturing that May 10 trial for the Derby, the drop back in trip was not

as stark as it appeared on paper. Chester's famously tight circuit doesn't make

the Dee a stamina test, while the Curragh's mile is staged over a more demanding

course. Magician also figured to inherit quality speed from the maternal half of

his pedigree, and Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's runner

proved that he has it in spades.

Jockey Joseph O'Brien, who chose Magician in preference to his father's three

other entrants, positioned him in a stalking spot in the early going. Up front,

Trading Leather was winging it. The Jim Bolger pupil was another cutting back in

trip, having finished second to Derby-bound Libertarian in the May 16 Dante at

York, and he intended to make use of his stamina here.

Magician traveled conspicuously well just off the strong pace, and cruised up

to challenge the longtime leader down the straight. Picking up impressively, he

surged clear about a furlong from home and had 3 1/2 lengths to spare at the

line. The clock reinforced the visual evidence, with a sprightly final time of

1:36 4/5 on the good-to-firm turf.

Stablemate Gale Force Ten overtook Trading Leather for runner-up honors by 1

1/2 lengths, handing Ballydoyle the exacta.

Aidan O'Brien was extending his record grip on the Irish Two Thousand Guineas

with this ninth victory, and third straight, following Roderic O'Connor (2011)

and Power (2012). The last trio of winners were all ridden by Joseph.

Havana Gold reported home fourth. Next came First Cornerstone; the remaining

O'Brien pair of Flying the Flag and George Vancouver; 5-2 favorite Van Der Neer,

the third-placer in Newmarket's Two Thousand Guineas who failed to flatter Dawn

Approach's form; and the two trained by jockey Johnny Murtagh, Fort Knox and Ask

Dad.

Magician advanced his record to 6-3-1-0. The bay took three tries to break

his maiden, but accomplished that in style when romping by six lengths at this

course and distance last October. Magician wheeled back 13 days later for the

Killavullan at Leopardstown, only to find trouble in running and retreat to

last. He is different proposition now, and is a good-looking two-for-two this

season.

Magician's opportunity in the Irish Guineas came at least partly as the

result of stablemate Cristoforo Colombo missing the race.

"Aidan had to rethink his plans for this race after Cristoforo Colombo had a

setback," the trainer's wife, Anne Marie, told

irishracing.com.

The trainer credited the Coolmore ownership team with making the final call.

"Cristoforo Colombo wasn't 100 percent, but the owners made the right

decision to come here with this horse," the trainer added.

"He's a beautiful horse and has a lot of options now. I imagine next week

(the June 1 Derby at Epsom) might come too quick for him. We'll look forward to

Ascot. He could go for the (June 18) St James' Palace Stakes."

Coolmore supremo John Magnier wasn't quite ready to rule out Epsom.

"He was impressive," Magnier told

racingpost.com. "This is an improving horse and being by Galileo he should

stay further. We've done crazy things before so we could run him at Epsom.

"I'm saying it tongue-in-cheek, but we could. We'll savor the moment and not

get carried away."

The Irish-bred Magician is out of Group 3-placed stakes heroine

Absolutelyfabulous, a daughter of European champion sprinter Mozart. This is the

black-type-rich family of Irish highweight and dual classic winner

Henrythenavigator, who won this race in 2008, and Saffron Walden, the 1999 Irish

Guineas hero.

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