3 minute read
As we saw Hartnell off into retirement, it was an Irish mare Magic Wand who scored her biggest win in the 2019 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Running again quickly after the Melbourne Cup, she was tough loving the firmer ground.
Winning Trainer: Aidan O'Brien (TJ Comerford quotes)
On the mare: "That's her third run now and that is the best ground she has gotten. First day at Moonee Valley wasn't ideal for her. She really really wants top of the ground. She actually ran very well for fourth."
"And at the same time she actually ran a good race in the Melbourne Cup as well. It was a great piece of work. It was great that she won today. In fairness we all fancied her. She's a good mare and she showed it there."
"If the ground didn't come up decent you wouldn't have seen that. After all those tough races that she's done. She takes it in well"
On running today: "I told Aidan that she ate up well. On Wednesday morning was when we had to nominate. Aidan said if she's eaten up and done well then run. It wasn't unexpected."
On retirement?: "Aidan is going to keep her in training next year. You never know she might come back here again."
On the Melbourne Cup: "In fairness all our horses ran well. Il Paradiso was unlucky. These things happen. Magic Wand was beaten only just over three lengths."
Winning Jockey: Ryan Moore
"She's a wonderful mare. She has been very unfortunate not to win a Group One before today. I'd say that is probably Galileo's record now, for number on individual Group One winners, and they are just so tough and honest these horses.
"The team that looks after her, TJ, they have done a wonderful job. She's had three runs, the Cox Plate, The Melbourne Cup and she's come out again and you just have to say that she is a very tough, courageous, high class mare that had her day today."
"They are all important, everywhere, and they are never easy to come across. Riding for an unbelievable stable that have unbelievable staff, everyone does everything and I am very lucky to ride these horses."
Beaten Jockeys:
Hugh Bowman (Hartnell): "He ran super. He's a warrior."
John Allen (Gailo Chop): "He ran alright. He hung in there for a long time. He just didn't quite see it out today."
Damian Lane (Humidor): "He ran honestly."
Michael Rodd (Debt Agent): "He was disappointing."
Michael Dee (Suzuka Devious): "Just from the draw I had to go along way back. He finished well."
Kerrin McEvoy (Kluger): "Ran well. Would've liked a bit more juice in the track but he presented at the top of the lane. Softer ground would've helped him."
Jamie Kah (Harlem): N/A
James McDonald (Kings Will Dream): "He went super. I he'd drawn an alley he would have been four or five lengths closer and fought out the finish. He'll be a force to be reckoned with in the autumn."
Nash Rawiller (Life Less Ordinary): N/A
Luke Nolen (So Si Bon): "Didn't back up."
Jye McNeil (Fifty Stars): "Solid effort first time at 2000m".
Damien Oliver (Night's Watch): "Raced like a tired horse."
Mark Zahra (Cape Of Good Hope): "No good."
Opie Bosson (Melody Belle): "Wide barrier draw didn't help. There wasn't a lot of strong pace in the race so she ran well."
Craig Williams (Aristia): "She didn't jump on terms today. Got into a nice position then at the 1000 metres the horse in front who was following the eventual winner didn't go forward when they sprinted. I got in a traffic jam at the 300 (metre mark), it cost her two lengths but just probably not quite up to these horses on today's conditions."