Sea the Stars’s Crystal Ocean Dominates the Aston Park

[Wandering Eyes]

Anything other than a clear-cut success in Saturday’s G3 Al Rayyan S., or Aston Park S. as it is registered, would have been a disappointment for TDN Rising Star Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and he duly delivered with a commanding six-length defeat of Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Tackling the fastest turf he has encountered so far at a sun-baked Newbury, last year’s G1 St Leger runner-up tracked the early pace under Ryan Moore before being asked to take over approaching the final two furlongs. Staying on strongly to the line, the 2-5 favourite looked all over a specialist at this distance and his jockey confirmed that impression. “A mile and a half is his trip,” he said. “He did nothing but improve last year and did what he was entitled to do. He’s just a nice progressive horse who will continue to do better. He’s a good mover and is very straightforward, so ground is not really an issue.”

CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 129, c, 4, 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)
O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 9-5-2-2, £409,273. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng.

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