Jessica Harrington targets Japan for first time with Classic star Magical Lagoon

Jessica Harrington will bid to enhance what is already one of the most colourful CVs in world racing when she breaks new ground with her first runner in Japan on Sunday.

Harrington has won multiple Irish Classics, Royal Ascot prizes and the Cheltenham Gold Cup and her next milestone target is this weekend's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin with Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon.

First-prize in Sunday's contest is ¥281,800,000 (£1.678 million/€1.9m), but the Irish Oaks is among the European races linked to the race, meaning Magical Lagoon would be in line for a US$700,000 bonus if she were to win, with US$280,000 for second and US$175,000 for third.

Magical Lagoon: fended off Toy to land the Irish OaksCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Harrington said: "She's travelled over to Japan and came out of quarantine in the last few days so we're looking forward to running her on Sunday. She'll be my first runner in Japan, something different for us, although I won't get over to see her run.

"I think it should suit her well. The ground should be quick. We sort of had it in our minds to travel with her after the ground turned very heavy on Arc weekend at Longchamp. Testing ground wouldn't have suited her well so this was a race we always had on our minds."

Stable jockey Shane Foley will take the ride at Hanshin, where he has visited the winner's enclosure on previous winter trips to Japan.

No British or Irish-trained performer has contested the 1m3f fillies only event since Snow Fairy won back-to-back runnings in 2010 and 2011. A mark of 111 makes Magical Lagoon the joint-fifth highest-rated runner in the race, with Grade 1 Shuka Sho first and second Stunning Rose (114) and Namur (113), and Daring Tact (113) setting the standard.

Magical Lagoon: edged out Sea Silk Road to win this year's Ribblesdale at Royal AscotCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

Harrington's daughter and assistant Kate has been pleased with the Ribblesdale Stakes winner's progress since arriving in Japan.

Speaking after the Zhang Yuesheng-owned filly exercised on the dirt course at Hanshin on Monday, she said: "She did a longer and stronger bit today [than previously], got a nice good blow into her and we're very happy. She also did the stall and was good.

"We walked on the turf course to go to the gate and the turf was good and quick ground. We have maybe a little bit more grass cover in Ireland but overall, I think the track was in very good condition. She's taking everything in her stride."

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