Ryan Moore has stayed in Australia for this week’s action riding two for Aidan O’Brien, Hunting Horn in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup and Magic Wand in the G1 Cox Plate.

Both had their last runs at home in the Irish Champion Stakes, Hunting Horn finished last, given pace making duties, he did a fine job only giving way in the straight, Magic Wand ran the best race of her career holding second, beaten by Magical, holding off the Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in third, Magical has further boosted the form winning the English Champion Stakes last weekend.

Back up in trip and down in grade will be a big benefit to Hunting Horn, his last seven runs have all been in G1 company and there’s been two fine performances, 5¾L behind Enable in the G1 Coral Ecplise at Sandown and 1L behind Channel Maker in the G1 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont, the last time he raced in G2 company was last years Prix Neil where he was touched off a short head by Brundtland, that was also over this mile and a half trip.

Magic Wand has run some great races this season, she was third in the G1 Man o’ War Stakes just ahead of Hunting Horn, only beaten ¾L by Channel Maker and Arklow, (Arklow since won the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic from Channel Maker), then she ran second to Addeybb in the Wolverton Stakes at Royal Ascot, (Addeybb ran second to Magical last weekend), then second to Iridessa in the G1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh, (Iridessa followed up winning the G1 Matron Stakes), then an off day in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes when tailed off, but back to form in the Arlington Millon when only beaten ¾L by Bricks and Mortar, then that great run behind Magical at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Recommendation:

Hunting Horn 8/1 e/w G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Magic Wand 12/1 e/w G1 Cox Plate