Magic Chegaga literally answers trainer Brian Duffy's prayers under Colin Keane

Tuesday: Galway

Magic Chegaga’s success in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap portrays everything that makes the Galway races the iconic week it is.

Trained by Brian Duffy, who has just four active horses at his base in Trim, County Meath, the daughter of Teofilo was picked up for just €12,500 last February from Moyglare Stud, and now takes her place on the roll of honour of one of the festival’s most illustrious Flat handicap prizes.

Preparations were not all plain sailing for the five-year-old, however, as the horsebox she was travelling in broke down en route to the track just outside a church in Kinnegad, 90 miles from Galway.

Duffy seized the opportunity while waiting for reinforcements, and stepped inside to say a quick prayer that his mare would do the business, and his invocation was most certainly answered.

Magic Chegaga had been handed a wide draw in stall 17 but, under the guidance of champion jockey Colin Keane, she travelled strongly into the straight before powering up the hill to record a half-length success, sparking scenes of jubilation in the winner’s enclosure.

A delighted Brian Duffy after winning the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile with Magic ChegagaCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Duffy said: “Colin is champion for a reason. To get her to win from that draw was a super ride. It’s the stuff of dreams really, you can't make it up.

“She’s a beautifully bred filly, as lots of the Moyglare horses are – when you buy out of there you know you’re buying something good.

“I was bidding for her from my computer at home in between working, and now we’re here!”

Magic Chegaga's victory was Keane's third success in the €120,000 contest, a race he first won on Brendan Brackan in 2013 as a 5lb claimer.

Keane said: “Brian and the team do a brilliant job with these horses and they deserve this.

“I couldn’t believe the position I ended up getting from stall 17. She brought me everywhere we needed to, and she made it easy for me.

“She doesn’t do a whole pile in front and I was hoping they’d bring us a little bit further. They stopped and she put the brakes on a little, but thankfully she lasted home.”

The Magic Lads syndicate celebrate Magic Chegaga's win in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile at GalwayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Pandemonium broke out in the winner's enclosure led by owners the Magic Lads Syndicate, who in turn heaped all the praise on the champion jockey's ride.

Richie Walsh of the Magic Lads Syndicate said: "What a man Colin is. He's a genius. He was in stall 17 and he got her there. That's why he's the best.

"Mark Flanagan works with her every day at home, the little things behind the scenes, and he deserves this too."

Moon shines

Trainer Matthew Smith continued his good run of recent form when Flaming Moon landed the spoils in the 2m½f Listed novice hurdle.

Much of the market attention centred around even-money favourite Tax For Max, but it was Smith’s 11-1 chance who stayed on best from the front under Bryan Cooper to prevail by half a length.

The five-year-old fell when last seen over hurdles at Punchestown in May, but he jumped with plenty of fluency on this occasion and responded to every urging asked of him by Cooper to fend off the late challengers to land his first victory since winning a Curragh handicap over a mile in August 2020.

Flaming Moon (left) makes all under Bryan Cooper to win the Listed novice hurdle at GalwayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Smith said: “He has always shown us plenty. He won a couple on the Flat and has some nice placed form over hurdles. I probably was a little hesitant before, but I said he was entitled to take his chance and we’re delighted.

“We started having a few winners at Killarney a few weeks ago and they seem to be back in form now, thank God.”

Connell collects

Enniskerry made a winning debut over fences in the 2m2f Latin Quarter Beginners Chase, fending off the challenge of even-money favourite Midnight Run to give trainer Barry Connell his second Galway festival success.

The eight-year-old scored by six and a half lengths, jumping well throughout, and Connell now has his sights set on the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December.

A delighted Connell said: “Fences suit him, they settle him better. We schooled him a couple of times at the Curragh, but he jumped the two fences in the dip like a showjumper. We’ll keep going now, and hopefully we have a potential Graded performer on our hands. He could be a Drinmore horse.”

Tasty Tahiyra

Dermot Weld looks to have a smart filly in Tahiyra, who got the Rosewell trainer off the mark for the week in the 7f fillies' maiden.

The daughter of Siyouni, a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and former stablemate Tarnawa, cleared away in impressive style up the hill to record a comfortable five-and-a-half-length success.

Weld said: “She’d been working well and we're pleased with her. She probably has a bit more pace at this stage than Tarnawa, but you’d expect that being by Siyouni. Let’s hope she has the wonderful courage and constitution Tarnawa had."

The attendance at Ballybrit on day two of the Galway festival came to 13,132, down from the 2019 figure of 14,596.

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