As a juvenile she showed very good form, winning three of her five races including a victory over male opposition in the Mill Reef Stakes.
[3] At the dispersal of the Newstead breeding stock in November 1985, Magic of Life was offered for auction and was sold for $2.5 million, a world record price for a foal[2] which stood for twelve years.
She started the 100/30 second favourite and finished one and a half lengths into second by the Henry Cecil-trained Diminuendo, after appearing to be outpaced by the winner in the closing stages.
She was well-fancied for the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot later in the month, but after disputing the lead for most of the way she faded in the final furlong and finished third of the five runners behind Bluebook.
On her final appearance of the season, Magic of Life was matched against colts for the first time in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
The French-trained filly Ravinella started odds-on favourite ahead of Diminuendo and the Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Ghariba with Magic of Life next in the betting at odds of 12/1.
Ravinella, who had added to her Newmarket success by winning the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches started 4/6 favourite whilst Magic of Life was a 16/1[5] outsider in the eight-runner field.
[9] After a break of more than two months, Magic of Life returned for the Waterford Crystal Mile in which she was matched against colts and older horses and started second favourite alongside Doyoun behind the 1986 winner Then Again.