Outstanding Galileo stallion Teofilo has already sired three winners of the Melbourne Cup in Without a Fight (IRE), Twilight Payment (IRE) and Cross Counter (GB) with his six year-old gelding Crystal Black putting himself into the picture for this year’s race after winning the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Trained by Gerard Keane and ridden by Colin Keane, Crystal Black has been a star on the rise in the staying handicaps over the past 12 months and was a last start winner at Royal Ascot when he won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap beating a field of 19.
Crystal Black was having his first crack at a Group race in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown and bolted clear to win by five lengths with connections immediately announcing plans to come to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.
“He relaxed and switched off better than I thought Crystal Black would, quickened up and got there sooner than I wanted. He was inclined to go a bit left towards the rail but once against the rail he went true to the line. The aim is the Melbourne Cup,” said Colin Keane.
A big horse that has the overall record of seven wins from 19 starts, Crystal Black was bred and raced originally by Moyglare Stud , who then sold him through the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale for 35,000 guineas to Midland Equine and he now runs for the Wear a Pink ribbon syndicate that includes some 200 owners.
Crystal Black has also been entered for the Caulfield Cup.
Crystal Black is the 116th stakes-winner for Teofilo and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Titanium Sky being the best of four winenrs from four to race from Group III winner She’s Our Mark.
