Group 3 success for exciting Frankel filly Magical Hope

A fruitful season looks likely for Magical Hope off the back of her easy win in the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks at Cork on Friday evening.

Trained by Paddy Twomey, the daughter of Frankel, who was bought by Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of owners Steve Weston, Ballylinch Stud, Mrs Paul Shanahan and P J O’Brien at last year’s Arqana December Sale, made much of the running to score by just over two lengths under Colin Keane.

It was only the filly’s second start for current connections. She was previously campaigned by her breeder Godolphin, for whom she won last year’s Listed Baden-Baden Cup in Germany.

“She is a nice filly who had a very good run at the Curragh on quicker ground than she’d love [when third in the Listed Orby Stakes last month],” Paddy Twomey told reporters. “She was taking on a gelding [winner Trustyourinstinct] who had a lot of racing done at a high level, she got tired in the last 100 yards so I thought that was a good run.

“I thought this was a good spot for her, Colin gave her a lovely ride and kept it uncomplicated.

“I liked her in France last year, I put a syndicate of people together to buy her and I appreciated their support, so I’m glad she has repaid them. She is a Group 3 winner in Ireland now and we’ll try and step forward again.

“She has good entries, is in the Pretty Polly and stays 1m4f well so we’ll look to explore that option. They are a bunch of owners who will enjoy a filly like her and she’ll be campaigned up in grade next.”

Magical Hope owns a pedigree in line with her talent as a Frankel daughter of Listed winner Magical Touch, a Dubawi daughter of dual Grade 2 scorer Criticism. The family goes back to Gerald Leigh’s Grade 1 winner Infamy.