No Elitlopp For Bee A Magician

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The connections of Bee A Magician have stated that the multiple O’Brien Award winner will not make the trip to Elitlopp this month, even though she captured the inaugural $150,000 Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff this past Sunday at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Trainer Richard 'Nifty' Norman told Sweden's Travronden that the connections of Bee A Magician have turned down an invitation for the mare to compete in the May 29 event.

"The owners had a discussion and a vote and they've decided not to go, mainly due to concerns about the mare's habits," said Norman. "Often when we've travelled her before she gets a little despressed and doesn't eat and we just didn't want to put her in that situation...especially to be away for two weeks. And if you got off to a bad start it could be kinda disastrous for the rest of the year."

Bee A Magician is owned by Dave McDuffee, Mel Hartman and Herb Liverman.

Norman did say that the travel arrangements provide by Elitlopp organizers were much more favourable than past years, and credited Solvalla with improving that aspect of the process

"The travel arrangements that Solvalla presented with direct flights to and from could hardly be better," said Norman. "But Bee A Magician will still be away from home for almost two weeks, and she has previously been difficult to travel far with.She gets depressed, does not eat and loses weight."

Having that said, Norman noted that the possibility of racing Bee A Magician in Europe will still something the connections would consider. However, that would involve sending the horse overseas for an extended period of time.

"We're kind of fascinated about going," continued Norman. "In the discussions we had thought that the best thing to do would be if she's still good next year, send her over and leave her. Maybe go to France, leave her there and someone train her and let her settle in and just leave her there....that might be a better idea for her."

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