Aidan O'Brien's Magician will be retired to Ashford Stud in Kentucky after he attempts to defend his Breeders' Cup Turf crown on Saturday.

By Galileo, the four-year-old sprang to prominence by winning the Dee Stakes at Chester last May and then dropped back down in trip to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas in fine style just two weeks later.

He disappointed in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and was not seen again until his finest hour at Santa Anita where he came with a late run to deny The Fugue.

This season he finished second in the Price Of Wales's Stakes to The Fugue after John Gosden's filly gained her revenge, and he also went close in the Arlington Million.

"Magician is a very, very good-looking horse who possesses a blistering turn of foot," said Ashford's director of sales Charlie O'Connor.

"Along with Frankel he's one of only three colts by Galileo to win a Classic over a mile so he's a rare commodity."