Magician to join Ashford Stud following BC Turf title defense run

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Magician will retire to Coolmore's Ashford

Stud near Versailles, Kentucky, after his title-defending run Saturday.

The Galileo four-year-old -- campaigned by

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier with trainer Aidan O'Brien -- is also a

classic

winner, having taken the Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas last May.

"Magician is a very, very good-looking horse who possesses a blistering turn of foot," Ashford's

Director of Sales Charlie O'Connor noted. "Along with Frankel he's one of

only three colts by Galileo to win a classic over a mile, so

he's a rare commodity."

Magician has also recorded

Group 3 victories going 10 and 10 1/2 furlongs, and was second this year in a

pair of English and Irish Group 1s -- the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prince of Wales's.

He was last

seen finishing second by a length in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 16.