By Tom Frary
Last seen finishing a gallant second in the G1 St Leger over a trip that may have stretched him at Doncaster in September, Sir Evelyn De Rothschild's Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) showed heart again on Friday to provide Sir Michael Stoute with a ninth renewal of Sandown's G3 bet365 Gordon Richards S. Brought along patiently at three in the manner of so many of his Freemason Lodge predecessors, the homebred followed a familiar pattern of educative outings and was third in the G2 Dante S. at York in May and G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot the following month before recording a decisive win in the 12-furlong G3 Gordon S. at Glorious Goodwood in August. Sent up to race in second early by Ryan Moore, the even-money favourite was passed by Fabricate (GB) (Makfi {GB}) approaching two out and had to dig to get the better of that rival. Gaining a slight edge in the last half furlong, he toughed it out for a short-head success to extend his trainer's record in this early-season staging post.
Stoute won this 12 months ago with the subsequent Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and it is not impossible to envisage a group 1 win for this TDN Rising Star this term if things fall right. Assistant trainer James Horton said, “Ryan was very pleased with him. This will sharpen him up a lot for some big targets later on in the year. It is nice knowing he is as effective over 10 as well 12 furlongs. It gives us a few more options. I think he had a good heave at the furlong pole. He is all guts and heart this horse. That has probably got him through it rather than fitness. He won very impressively at Goodwood on horrible ground, but I think he is better on better ground. I think the key to him is that he is such a brave horse.”
Crystal Ocean is a half-brother to two former Stoute stalwarts in the GI Canadian International and G2 King Edward VII S. hero Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the G2 Princess of Wales's S. and dual G2 Pride S. winner Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and he could yet surpass that duo. The smart dam is connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert) and other notables in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Sasuru (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}), MGSW Sally Rous (Ire) (Rousillon) and Tuscan Evening (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who captured the GI Gamely S.
Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 GORDON RICHARDS S.-G3, £70,000, SAN, 4-27, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:11.48, g/s.
1–CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 126, c, 4, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Crystal Star (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest
3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB)
O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £39,697. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 7-3-2-2, $396,509. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fabricate (GB), 126, g, 6, Makfi (GB)–Flight of Fancy (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-The Queen (GB); T-Michael Bell. £15,050.
3–Morando (Fr), 126, g, 5, Kendargent (Fr)–Moranda (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). (€230,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG; 290,000gns 4yo '17 TATAHI). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Andrew Balding. £7,532.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 4.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Almodovar (Ire), What About Carlo (Fr), First Sitting (GB). Scratched: Spark Plug (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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