Mythical Magic much the best at Meydan

Son of Iffraaj cruises to G2 Zabeel Mile victory

Iffraaj’s four-year-old son Mythical Magic added a well-deserved first Group win to his record on Thursday, 21 February with a convincing victory in the feature race of the night at Meydan, the G2 Zabeel Mile.

Settled in fourth position under William Buick, Charlie Appleby’s charge began to make progress at the halfway stage and moved up to second once the field turned for home. Mythical Magic battled with Century Dream (Cape Cross) at the top of the straight, but once he hit the front he soon moved clear to win going away by three lengths.

Mythical Magic won the Listed Prix Francois Boutin at two, a season during which he also finished third in the Horris Hill. Twice Stakes-placed last year, he opened his 2019 campaign with a second to stablemate D’Bai (Dubawi) in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort. He could now head to Australia for a tilt at the G1 Doncaster Handicap, running at Randwick on Saturday, 6 April.

Mythical Magic was bred by Peter Kelly and Ms Wendy Daly and is out of the winning Octagonal mare Mythie, also dam of Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Esentepe.

Iffraaj is sire of nine G1 winners to date, including dual European Champion Ribchester and crack sprinter Jungle Cat, both of whom now stand on the Darley roster at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Iffraaj sired an impressive 23 two-year-old winners in 2018, headed by G2 colt Confiding.

Iffraaj stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £35,000, Oct 1, SLF.