MAJOR HAS MARCHED FOR THE FINAL TIME
Ian Fortune
Magical Major has graced the sand for the final time. One of the fastest and most incredibly talented greyhounds of recent years, he had an all-too brief racing career.
Yet he still managed to light up the track scene like a shooting star blazing across the night sky.
“MAJOR HAD EVERYTHING”
It’s hard to believe that he had just 16 career starts, but in that time he provided enough evidence to suggest that in terms of pure pace and power, few had an engine to match the sensational son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary.
Pat Guilfoyle confirmed the news of Magical Major’s retirement from the track in recent days, although the eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that he is already being advertised at stud.
It was clear from early that Magical Major had the potential to be special. Indeed, before he ran his first race, it seemed as though the half the country was speaking of his ability.
Pat Guilfoyle was certainly in no doubt, “Major had everything. Pace and pedigree but most of all determination. Not many top dogs can come from off the pace these days but he could. He was a front runner up the gallop and has the best temperament. He will be a difficult race dog to replace, one of our very best"
“I HEAR PAT HAS ONE”
It was around the time of the 2025 English Derby decider.
On a bus from the airport long-term carpark to the terminal, a well-known figure in the sport whispered to this scribe, “I hear Pat [Guilfoyle] has one.”
Of course, by this point Magical Luka had just won his fifth straight to start his career. Indeed, just a few hours earlier he had broken the Tralee 500yd track record. He would go onto break it twice more in his two subsequent runs. But the line that everyone in the sport has heard many times over the years came next, “I hear he has a brother who’s even faster”.
HIS TALENT CLEAR FROM THE START
We didn’t have to wait long to find out.
The following Friday night, for the first time in public, Magical Major stepped foot on the Shelbourne Park sand, debuting in the opening round of the hugely valuable Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning ON1 525.
It was such a high-profile unraced competition that one of the firms actually priced it up. And it was perhaps no surprise that Magical Major was one of the greyhounds that came in for plenty of support in the ante-post market. Not just that, but BOYLE Sports also reported an enquiry about the dog for Derby success. Word was clearly getting out.
He did most things right, coming away on terms and taking charge on the turn. He would ease on to win by five lengths from subsequent Juvenile Derby champion Getup The Boy in a rapid 28.23. For all that he won in fine style, he left the impression that he would go considerably faster in the near future.
A week on, he suffered a first defeat, finding traffic at the first, second and third turns before storming home to finish just a length away in second. If anything, he was even more impressive in defeat than seven days earlier.
And so, he took his place in the final. Despite the presence of Ballymac Stud, Getup The Boy and future Gold Cup champion and litter brother Coloursaregreen, Magical Major was sent to traps an odds-on favourite.
Again, he found himself off the pace and found third bend traffic but absolutely flew up the straight to join Ballymac Stud on the line. The pair couldn’t be separated in 28.23, sharing the winner and runners-up prizes, each collecting €9,500. The greyhound world was starting to take notice.
BRILLIANT PLATE SUCCESS
It would be the final time that Magical Major would race over 525yds.
Despite his youth and inexperience, he was stepped up to 550yds with a view to getting him ready for a Derby challenge. As part of those preparations, he won a Maiden 550 at Shelbourne, leading late to beat another future superstar in Ballymac Kamala. Sadly, his Derby challenge ended at the opening hurdle when badly baulked at the first bend.
A week later he won a sprint at Limerick, highlighting his appreciation for a longer run to the turn, before returning to Dublin for the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate. He was largely faultless through the stake, suffering just one narrow defeat in the semis but returning to win the €7,500 final in typically power-packed fashion.
A CAREER CHANGING MOMENT
His next target, a fortnight later, was the Yvonne Barry 600.
But this was where his career would take a major turn. After badly missing the start, he flew into the bend only to find bad traffic. After picking up a career threatening injury, he was off the track for over eight months.
However, ahead of his return, he did show his well-being, posting some incredible trial times at Limerick, Shelbourne and Tralee. But disaster would strike on his long-awaited return. He was knocked over on the turn. Thankfully, he was fine after the spill but the end of his racing career was near.
BUILT FOR PACE AND POWER
He was back in action just two weeks later and appreciated a step up to 575yds.
Leaving a talented field standing, he came home clear in a brilliant 30.78. Another two weeks on, he raced over 600yds and delivered one of the great performances.
Posting a simply sensational 18.15 sectional to the third turn, he ran right to the line to stop the clock in 31.88. It was the second fastest time ever at Shelbourne Park for the testing trip.
Many fancied him for Derby glory but Pat Guilfoyle felt that after his injury issues, it was perhaps best to keep him to one-off races. Sadly, he would have just one more career start.
It came in the early days of this month. Again, showing astounding pace, he left a talented field in his dust. Going clear to the third turn, he was set to emerge a brilliant winner in another incredible time for the 600yd trip and then disaster struck.
It was clear between the final two bends that his action had gone. A torn gracilis the issue. Despite his obvious discomfort, he displayed incredible heart and determination to continue and somehow managed to finish a close third. It was a final reminder of all his many qualities.
BRED FOR SUCCESS
The gracilis injury meant the end of his racing career.
Magical Major had burned bright. He and his litter brothers Magical Luka and Coloursaregreen were a large part of the reason why their sire King Sheeran has become a popular choice for breeders.
Magical Mary, their dam, was a machine. She won on debut around Limerick in 28.10 and is now firmly established as one of the great brood bitches with Magical Major her fastest son, while Lennies Ash, from her second litter, was a brilliant winner of the Irish Oaks.
A SIRE OF SOME POTENTIAL
Early signs are that Magical Major is going to make a sire of some note.
The mere fact that he serviced a few bitches prior to establishing himself as a top-class racer is evidence of how highly his connections regarded him. He has pups on the ground, some of which are ready to start schooling and reports are good.
His racing career may have been all too short, but he will be remembered as a superstar. A most stunning specimen, weighing in at a near-perfect 77/78lbs, with the power and pure pace to match any. And boasting a pedigree and the character traits you can only dream of, it would be something of a surprise if he doesn’t produce a few champions himself.
We may never have the good fortune to see Magical Major race again, but if his pups possess the same qualities as their sire, he is likely to leave quite a legacy. Thanks for the memories Major. Have a long and happy retirement.