Magical casts Curragh spell over fancied O'Brien stablemates

Another big race winner for Ballydoyle – but, not for the first time, it wasn't a result that went exactly to script.

Aidan O'Brien won the Group 2 Breast Cancer Research Debutante Stakes for the 12th time, but not with the filly most thought he would. And not even with the other one, either.

Despite September and Happily dominating the betting, it was their stablemate Magical, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, who ran out the winner of the contest at 11-1.

Magical, a winner of a Cork maiden on her previous start, was sent off in front by O'Brien on the rain-softened ground, with Group 3 winner Happily, the choice of Ryan Moore, sitting just off her.

Chesham winner September, who was the subject of late money and was sent off 11-10 favourite, was struggling from two furlongs out, where Happily, the 6-4 second favourite, was also coming under pressure.

Magical, meanwhile, was travelling much more sweetly as O'Brien sent her away from her rivals to win by one and a quarter lengths from Happily, with Mary Tudor, who had run Magical to a head when making her debut at Cork, the same distance back in third. September was three-quarters of a length away in fourth.

The winner is a sister to Fillies' Mile winner and 1,000 Guineas and Oaks runner-up Rhododendron, who won the Debutante a year ago.

O'Brien suggested a rematch could be on the cards for the three fillies, with next month's Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the radar.

He said: "That went very well for Magical. She was green and made quite hard work of it to win her maiden at Cork, but she travelled very well in front today.

"Donnacha didn't go mad on her and she's won well. She's out of a Pivotal mare and that probably helped her on the ground. She got the trip well and went to the line well – she should stay further.

"Ryan said Happily just couldn't quicken the way she can on better ground, and he still likes her a lot, whereas September was coming back from a break and would've preferred better conditions. She should come on for the run."

O'Brien added: "I'd imagine all three of them will come back here for the Moyglare on September 10, and Clemmie, who won the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last month, will join them unless the ground is very soft."

Clemmie's position as ante-post favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas was enhanced by the Debutante result in the eyes of several firms, who went 6-1 (from 7), while Magical is now generally second favourite at 10-1 (from 25).

Magical is also 10-1 (again generally from 25) – and market leader – for the Investec Oaks.

Result and analysis