Breeders’ Cup off the agenda
The four-year-old had been due to run on Saturday before heading over to America for the Breeders' Cup but those plans have had to be shelved
MAGICAL Memory will not run again this season after suffering a minor setback.
The four-year-old sprinter had been expected to line-up in the John Guest Bengough Stakes at Ascot on Saturday before a possible trip to America for the Breeders' Cup.
However, those plans have been scrapped and connections of the Charlie Hills-trained grey are already looking forward to 2017.
Magical Memory, winner of the Stewards' Cup in 2015, established himself as a classy performer with victories in the Abernant and Duke Of York Stakes on his first two starts this term.
He was then a close fourth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but put in below-par efforts in both the July Cup and Sprint Cup at Haydock in which he had finished third the previous campaign.
"He had a small setback last week. He's fine. He'll be hand walked for the next week and then go on his winter break," said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds.
"It may a blessing in disguise, although it's a shame he can't go pot-hunting abroad, but he'll be back.
"I think we'll follow a similar programme to this year and start off aiming at the Abernant in April.
"He's a star horse. His last two runs may have been a little disappointing, but there were excuses and he's still a very exciting prospect for next year.
"His breaks after his two-year-old and three-year-old (seasons) really worked wonders. I'm glad this has happened now rather than in April."
Tullius, another flagbearer for the Kennet Valley syndicates, is on course to run at Ascot on British Champions Day for the third year running next month.
After competing in the Group One, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Qipco Champion Stakes, the eight-year-old's sights will be lowered as he is set for the Balmoral Handicap that concludes the star-studded card.
"Tullius runs in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day. He'll be one of the top weights in that," said Hoskins.
"He ran a great race at Goodwood last week and runs off a mark of 110 at Ascot. What a horse he is."
