G1SW Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Crystal Star {GB}, by Mark of Esteem {Ire}), winner of this year's G1 Prince of Wales's S., has been bought by Coolmore and will stand under its National Hunt banner at The Beeches Stud in 2020. A fee will be announced later. The 5-year-old suffered a career-ending injury on the gallops last month, bowing out with an official rating of 127.
“We've been lucky enough to get some great horses over the years, but Crystal Ocean could be the best of the lot,” said The Beeches manager Bobby McCarthy. “He's a great outcross option for the many good mares from the Sadler's Wells line.”
Bred by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Southcourt Stud, the homebred won the G3 Gordon S. and was placed second in the 2017 G1 St. Leger S. at three, before adding a trio of group victories at four. His season culminated with a pair of seconds in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 QIPCO Champions S. two starts later. After adding a brace of Group 3s to start his 2019 season, the 'TDN Rising Star' captured the aforementioned Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and ended his career with two more runner-up performances at the top level-once again in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and in York's Juddmonte International S. in his final start. In total, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee scored seven times at the group level and carries a mark of 17-8-7-2 and $2,647,105 in earnings.
“If you look at his race record, it's quite amazing,” commented trainer Sir Michael Stoute. “He has a lovely temperament and is a joy to train.”
Out of the English SW & GSP mare Crystal Star, Crystal Ocean is a half-brother to English highweights Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a MGSW, and Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won the GI Pattison Canadian International S., as well as SW Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Under the third dam is G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert).
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