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Fabulously-consistent five-year-old Crystal Ocean nailed a first G1 victory when landing the feature race on day two of the Royal Meeting, the £750,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori in the colours of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, Crystal Ocean (3/1) showed utmost gameness in the home straight, seeing off pace-maker Hunting Horn, who finished fourth, and then that horse's stablemate, the favourite Magical (13/8). Magical seemed likely to pick off Crystal Ocean as they approached the furlong pole, but he would not yield, and was pulling clear of the filly as they reached the line. He scored by one and a quarter lengths, while third-placed Waldgeist (4/1) was three and a quarter lengths adrift of Magical.
Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, commenting on the horse and on his decision to opt for a mile-and-a-quarter race, said: "Crystal Ocean is a high-class horse and I am delighted to have won a Group One with him now. He is just a very admirable racehorse. It's marvellous to train a Group One horse like this.
"I thought he ran very well in the Champion Stakes last year [over today's course and distance] and better than it appeared [when six-lengths second to Cracksman]. He may be better over a mile and a half, but I felt he was a pretty good horse over 10 furlongs, and he proved that today.
"There has been great teamwork here by my assistant James Savage, Crystal Ocean's lad, Cuarado, who rides him a lot along with Ted Durcan."
Sir Evelyn said of his home-bred horse: "He's very consistent - look at his record. It is quite amazing. He can stay a mile and a half, and don't forget he was second in the St Leger. Frankie loves him."
Crystal Ocean has yet to finish outside the first three in 15 races, and his record now reads eight wins, five seconds and two thirds. He is another example of Sir Michael's superb achievements with older horses. The trainer's record as Royal Ascot's most successful handler has now been extended to 80 victories, while Dettori, the meeting's winning-most jockey, has now reached 62 winners.
