Crystal Ocean will compete at Ascot in the British Champion Stakes with a point to prove in a duel with Japan to end the flat season. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of his rival in their last outing at York Racecourse. Stoute will be targeting a comeback in the final meet of the campaign, ensuring that his horse ends an impressive term on a high note.
The two horses will collide in October at Ascot in one of the elite races of the season, with Crystal Ocean being backed as the leading contender to claim the victory in the horse racing betting at Space Casino. He will be pushed all the way. Although, if the five-year-old can regain his peak form, then he will be difficult to stop. Japan has a great deal of quality and, even though he is two years younger, the upstart could be ready to dislodge his rival once again from the winners’ circle.
What a fantastic, consistent horse Crystal Ocean is ? pic.twitter.com/egv8FbQQS9
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) July 27, 2019
Crystal Ocean competed in the Champion Stakes last season but was well beaten by the outstanding horse Cracksman by six lengths. He returned for the start of the 2019 flat campaign in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park and put forward a solid performance in the opener. With Ryan Moore in the saddle, he controlled the race and was able to secure a comfortable victory by two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Knight To Behold.
Stoute’s charge was the odds-on favorite for the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newmarket. Crystal Ocean was once again steady on the track as he kept in touch with the leader before he made his surge to the front two furlongs from the end of the contest. The bay colt saw out the win with ease, finishing with a canter down the stretch.
The five-year-old had momentum for his first major race of the campaign at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. For the first time that season, he was not considered the leading contender. Aidan O’Brien’s impressive filly Magical was the favorite for the contest, although Crystal Ocean was still a threat in the minds of the bookmakers. Frankie Dettori delivered an excellent ride in the saddle, timing the bay colt’s surge to perfection to move ahead of his rival. Stoute’s charge displayed resilience to fend off an attempt from Magical to regain the advantage before ending with a flourish to claim the victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Ascot again hosted another pinnacle event as Crystal Ocean prepared for a battle with Enable in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. James Doyle took the saddle as Dettori was at Enable’s reins and the two horses enjoyed a fierce duel all the way to the line. Only the brilliance of John Gosden’s charge allowed her to take the win, edging out the bay colt by a neck on the line. Stoute’s horse came within inches of pulling off a major upset, proving his caliber on the major stage.
Japan edged out favourite Crystal Ocean – the world’s top rated horse – in a photo finish in the feature contest, The Juddmonte International Stakes on day 1 of the #EborFestival. Jockey Ryan Moore said the Aidan O’Brien trained horse has “not put a foot wrong his whole life” ?. pic.twitter.com/tdbfUQlzW1
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) August 21, 2019
However, he himself was bested last time out at York in the Juddmonte International Stakes. Japan got the better of the five-year-old on the line, beating him out by a head. It was not a poor performance, but not a clinical one, which resulted in his failure. Crystal Ocean will have to be a lot better in his remaining races of the campaign to win the Champion Stakes at Ascot and see off the threat of his rivals.