Crystal Black, the Royal Ascot champion, may be setting his sights on the Melbourne Cup by competing in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown next month. The six-year-old, trained by Gerry and Colin Keane, garnered acclaim after winning the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Ascot, marking his third victory of the season.
With a new rating of 111, Keane is looking to enter Crystal Black into Pattern class races, starting with the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes on August 8. Reflecting on their success at Royal Ascot, Keane mentioned their plans for future races and the possibility of a Melbourne Cup bid for Crystal Black, following in the footsteps of their past success with True Self.
Keane expressed his delight with Crystal Black's recent performances and highlighted the horse's remarkable turnaround from a challenging previous season. The upcoming Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown presents an exciting opportunity for Crystal Black to continue his winning streak and potentially pave the way for a prestigious Melbourne Cup appearance.