The Ian Williams trained Magic Circle will not be heading back to Australia this season to try and put right his underwhelming run in last seasons Melbourne Cup with Chester looking next on the seven year olds agenda.
The gelding was fancied by many for the feature contest down under last season, sent off second favourite in the end but was a double figure price just a few days previous to the race.
However, he never ran his race and burst blood vessels early on in the race which saw him finish near the back of the field in a really disappointing day for the yard having put huge preparation in to the race.
With Williams stating that Magic Circle will not be heading back to Melbourne, he will now head to the Listed Chester Stakes on August 31st, which is no surprise with the track being the favourite of his owner Dr Marwan Koukash.
The gelding has ran twice this season finishing third of six runners on debut at Chester in the Ormonde Stakes and then last time out he finished near the back of the field in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup.
This might be the reason for the horse not heading down under with him just not being as good as he used to be when he was much younger.
(Credit At The Races) Williams said: “He has had a little bit of time off as we have had a few little issue with him, but he is likely to reappear in the Listed mile-and-six race at Chester at the end of the month.
“We will see where he goes from there, but we don’t have any intentions of sending him abroad this year.”
“He has had a few little problems, but hopefully he has overcome them now and is now moving forwards.”
The Dubai Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October has been identified as a possible long-term target and Williams added: “We will have a look at the Cesarewitch and see what goes there and that could possibly be an end-of-season target, but there are no firm plans.
“We will get his next run out of the way and see how he goes.
“Hopefully he will come back as good as ever, and although he is getting on a bit he is still a very talented horse.”