Trainer ‘gutted’ by Group One winner’s death

VETERAN horseman Robbie O’Connell has been left “gutted” by news his former stable star Magicool has died.

Recently sent to New South Wales for a campaign, Magicool collapsed during training before making his interstate debut.

Magicool’s death has struck on the anniversary of his biggest run…which came in defeat!

Driven to perfection by Zac Phillips, Magicool almost caused the upset of the season when he burst to the lead from barrier five in last year’s Great Southern Star only to be beaten in the last stride by champion squaregaiter Tornado Valley.

This year’s GSS was conducted at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” O’Connell said. “He’d been down on form and it was decided to give him one more go in New South Wales.

“Maybe a change of scenery may have helped, but we will never know.

“I’m shaken to the core as he was a beautiful horse…a mate more than anything.

“He had a personality like no other, including letting me know how disappointed he was if I came over to him without liquorice.”

Phillips, who just took the reins behind Bagnato Horse Transport, echoed O’Connell’s sentiment about the dual Group One winning trotter.

“He may not have been the best in every field, but you’d struggle to find a horse which tried harder,” Phillips said.

“He gave his all every time he stepped on the track…he didn’t know how to race any other way.

“He was a lovely horse to be associated with and you wouldn’t mind have a stable full of horses like him.”