04/05/2014. MAGICIAN, who captured the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, recorded his first win of 2014 in the Mooresbridge Stakes but the 2-13 favourite had to work a lot harder than his starting price suggested he would.

Magician - High Chaparral EBF Mooresbridge Stakes

Magician (right) edges out Parish Hall

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Odds-on Magician gets job done in Mooresbridge

 BY JAMES BURN4:17PM 5 MAY 2014 

Report: Curragh, Monday

High Chaparral European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes (Group 3) 1m2f, 4yo+

Denied a clear run when sixth in the Dubai Sheema Classic last month, Magician was widely expected to put that right in the Mooresbridge, which his trainer Aidan O’Brien has won for the last four years.

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However, punters who took the short price about the son of Galileo may have had a few concerns with O’Brien’s son Joseph settling him last of the five runners.

Jazz Girl took the field along and was tracked by Paene Magnus and the winner’s stablemate Hall Of Mirrors.

Magician’s main rival Parish Hall, winner of the Dewhurst in 2011, was next with O’Brien watching on aboard the talented colt.

Turning for home, Parish Hall made a dash for the lead and an upset looked likely with O’Brien getting to work on the four-year-old.

Magician, though, picked up in the straight and won by a neck from 6-1 shot Parish Hall.

The Tattersalls Gold Cup back at the Curragh on May 25 is next for Magician.

“We’ll come back here for that later in the month,” said O’Brien, who trains him for Coolmore partners Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor, in whose orange and blue silks he runs.

“He was away in Dubai and nothing went right for him, so we gave him a little rest before today. We wanted to go right-handed with him as well. He should come on a good bit for that and he’s in a good place. We’re very happy with him.”

fonte: RacingPOst