'Eclectic' group of owners eyeing ambitious goals with progressive Arqana buy Magical Hope

A carefully curated plan hatched by Mark McStay and Paddy Twomey came to fruition recently when €500,000 Arqana purchase Magical Hope stormed home in the Munster Oaks at Cork. 

The Godolphin-bred daughter of Frankel had shown good form when donning the famous blue silks, with a Listed contest at Baden-Baden last August for Henri-Alex Pantall among her victories. 

Given the team – which have previously combined to supply subsequent Group 1 winner La Petite Coco – were on the lookout for a lightly raced filly with a good pedigree, when Magical Hope came up in the Arqana December Sale catalogue, it seemed an opportunity too good to miss. 

Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock said: "Paddy and I have combined successfully over the years. La Petite Coco, who I bought with Barry Irwin and Shawn Dugan for Team Valor, was one filly who would stand out as a previous success story. We work separately at the sales but then we put our heads together over a cup of tea at the end of the day and see if anything crosses both our lists."

"Paddy was very keen on this filly; he was particularly keen on her. I'd seen her and liked her, while we had some mutual clients who were looking for a well-bred filly with some form under her belt who could progress. Being by Frankel and from an excellent family we felt that, with natural progression, having already been a stakes winner, she was one who'd have every chance to do well at four."

Magical Hope has indeed shown herself to be progressive, improving from her third behind Trustyourinstinct in the Listed Orby Stakes to running out a ready winner of the Munster Oaks. The filly is owned by a number of the bloodstock world's leading figures, including Paul Shanahan, Steve Weston and Ballylinch Stud, in addition to young owner Patrick O'Brien.

Mark McStay: "She's very much a filly who not just one person could take credit for"Credit: Alisha Meeder

McStay said of the team behind the bay: "Paul Shanahan is one of the best judges in the game and he expressed an interest, Ballylinch expressed an interest, as well as Steve Weston, who is a client I work closely with via Medallion Racing. She's very much a filly who not just one person could take credit for, everybody from the various agents to the partners had all shown full appreciation of her before she went into the ring. We were just the glue who put it all together."

Magical Hope, who hails from the family of the high-class American performer Criticism, holds an entry for the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and the Group 3 International Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. 

The trainer's string are in excellent form, having celebrated a first Royal Ascot winner in Carmers, who was successful in the Queen's Vase and two third-placed horses from just four runners. It would be little surprise were Magical Hope to add to Twomey's impressive run. 

"I'll leave future targets up to the trainer, he's done a fantastic job with her," McStay said. "She ran very well at the Curragh on the first day, beaten by a horse of Joseph's who had a run and is a good horse in his own right. Her pedigree, being out of a Dubawi mare, would suggest a mile and a quarter is within her remit, while equally we saw the other evening she was going away again at the line."

The Group 3 success has allowed the ownership group to dream of future targets, but they are also enjoying the moment after a career-best effort from Magical Hope. 

"Just to win the Munster Oaks the other night was extremely satisfying for all the owners," he added. "Steve Weston's been a big supporter of mine, Paul Shanahan a long-standing client, while Patrick O'Brien is a young guy who loves his racing. 

"Obviously John O'Connor is one of the shrewdest people around too. I think people got a big kick out of it, it's probably what you'd call an eclectic group of owners but it's been lucky and long may the luck continue."

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