Multiple Group One-winner Magical has run her last race with a temperature ruling her out of her planned swan song at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed the four-year-old will now head to the broodmare barn.
Magical had a stellar 2019, winning the the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
O’Brien was hoping to see her cap her career with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Saturday, but she did not board the flight to California.
“Fifteen minutes after she had done her work this morning, her temperature was slightly raised. She was due to go at 9.30am and her temperature was taken at 9.15am,” O’Brien said.
“We didn’t want to travel her because when she goes over there, she’d have to go into quarantine. If she did develop anything travelling over, then that would have locked up quarantine.
“We didn’t want to risk her, especially after a long season and on a long journey. Before they travel we always want their temperatures to be 100 per cent.”
Magical retires having won nine of her of her 21 starts.
She also filled the runner-up spot on six occasions, most notably chasing home the brilliant Enable in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Eclipse Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.
Magical is due to be covered by Coolmore stallion No Nay Never in 2020.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au