By Sean Cronin
Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was a narrow second tackling an insufficient seven furlongs at Newbury in his sole juvenile start Sept. 16, earned TDN Rising Star status with an impressive two-length score going one-and-a-quarter miles at Nottingham on seasonal return Apr. 22, and went postward for Goodwood's G3 Qatar Gordon S. returning off commendable thirds behind Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in York's May 18 G2 Dante S. and Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII S. last time. Patiently ridden three lengths off the pace set by Mount Moriah (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) for much of this storied event, the well-backed 6-4 favourite made smooth headway in the straight to challenge along the inner at the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching once quickening impressively for control approaching the final eighth to easily register a career high, extending trainer Sir Michael Stoute's record haul in the contest to ten. At the line, he was 3 1/2 lengths in advance of King Edward VII runner-up Khalidi (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was unable to land a telling blow, with Mount Moriah keeping on well once headed to finish a length further adrift in third. “He's a lightly raced colt who has progressed with every run, he will get better as the year goes on and will be better next year,” insisted winning rider Ryan Moore. “I was a bit concerned about the [soft] ground as he's such a good-moving horse, but he'll have learnt plenty and will build on this. He'll stay, but I'm not sure if he's a mile-and-six horse. It'll be for Sir Michael [Stoute] to decide, but I'm not sure if he'll go for the [Sept. 16 G1] St Leger [at Doncaster].”
Sir Michael Stoute used this contest as a launchpad to G1 St Leger glory for Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in 2008, but avoided taking a similar route, and kept to shorter distances than that extended 14-furlong Classic, for last year's winner and subsequent G1 Eclipse S. hero and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). However, the Newmarket-based conditioner confirmed Doncaster remained a possible option, despite jockey Ryan Moore's reservations, for Crystal Ocean and explained, “We have loved this horse from early days, he's a lovely stamp of a horse with a good mind. He goes on soft ground and we know that because he did so in the Dante, but today's going was a big concern being among the worst you can get after such phenomenal rain. He handled it really well, but he's a good athlete, which helps. I said before the Dante that I didn't consider him to be a Derby horse because you have to be more mature than he was at that time. We will look at the St Leger, and I have mentioned it to [owner Sir] Evelyn [de Rothschild] in the past, but I wouldn't say definitely. I very much think he's a 12-furlongs horse, but we might do a Conduit and have a one-off fling [at the St Leger] which could be nice for the man who pays the bills.”
Crystal Ocean becomes the fourth black-type winner for Crystal Star (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), who won the Listed Radley S. and was runner-up in the G3 Dubai Duty Free S., following in wake of GI Pattison Canadian International S. victor Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), MGSW Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Listed Fillies' Trial victress Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Crystal Star, who is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Crystal King (GB) (Frankel {GB}), is a half-sister to Listed Aphrodite S. winner Waila (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) and a granddaughter of Krisalya (GB) (Kris {GB}), herself the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert) and a half-sister to G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Sasuru (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}), G2 Challenge S. and G3 Jersey S. victress Sally Rous (Ire) Rousillon) and G3 Park Hill S. runner-up The Faraway Tree (GB) (Suave Dancer), who in turn produced GI Gamely S. heroine Tuscan Evening (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR GORDON S.-G3, £100,000, GOO, 8-5, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:42.94, sf.
1–CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 127, c, 3, 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)
*1st stakes win. O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2, $136,711. *1/2 to Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Eng, $550,532, to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can & MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978, & to Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng, $99,373. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Khalidi (GB), 127, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)–Bezique (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (170,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Nizar Anwar; B-Aston House Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £21,500.
3–Mount Moriah (GB), 127, g, 3, Mount Nelson (GB)–Rule Britannia (GB), by Night Shift. (20,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; €30,000 Ylg '15 BBAGS). O-Norman Brunskill; B-Lady Bland & Newsells Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £10,760.
Margins: 3HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.50, 2.25, 3.30.
Also Ran: Jake's Hill (GB), Across Dubai (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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