THE only surprise when it was announced that Crystal Ocean was going to stud was that he was not to stand beside Galileo and company at Coolmore, but that he was to join a stellar group at The Beeches Stud. After all, Crystal Ocean, rated the equal of Enable and Waldgeist in 2019, was among the best racehorses of the last decade.
This Group 1 star never finished out of the first three in a 17-race career that lasted four seasons, and few horses can claim to have won more than £2 million on the racecourse. Career highlights include finishing second to Capri, and in front of Stradivarius, in a vintage edition of the Group 1 St Leger, defeating Magical in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes over 10 furlongs, chasing home Cracksman in the Group 1 Champion Stakes, and when runner-up to Enable and Japan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Juddmonte International respectively.
His fee for 2020, and this year, was set at €8,000, and such was his popularity that he was the busiest stallion going to stud last year when he covered 280 mares. He is a half-brother to the Grade 1 winner Hillstar (Danehill Dancer), who stands at Garryrichard Stud, and they are from a family that is full of quality.
Highest-rated
Crystal Ocean is the highest-rated runner sired by Sea The Stars (Cape Cross). The Green Desert-line is one of the most successful on the flat, but it has been making waves in the National Hunt world too. Grade 1 winners Global Citizen, My Tent Or Yours, A Wave Of The Sea and Allmankind are from this line.
While numbers are one thing, getting quality mares is another. Robert McCarthy is thrilled that the bookings for Crystal Ocean this year include some of the best performed and related mares of recent times. While picking a few out is fraught with danger, here are some mouth-watering names.
Apple’s Jade – purchased last year for a record €530,000 by Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud, this 15-race winning daughter of Saddler Maker (Sadler’s Wells) gained 11 of these successes at Grade 1 level, notably landing the Irish Champion Hurdle. She is due to have her first foal shortly by Walk In The Park (Montjeu), and what a prospect that is
Augusta Kate – Kevin Doyle’s Grade 1 winning hurdler by Yeats (Sadler’s Wells) was also a dual listed-winning bumper mare, and she is in turn a daughter of another Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Feathard Lady (Accordion) who won the Christmas Hurdle. Yeats had a memorable Cheltenham 2021 with Flooring Porter and Chantry House winning Grade 1s. Augusta Kate is due to Maxios (Monsun)
Aurore D’estruval – a dual listed winner over hurdles, this daughter of Nickname (Lost World) was runner-up in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and she comes from the immediate family of Grade 1 Challow Hurdle winner Messire Des Obeaux. Owned by The Beeches and Grange Stud, she is returning to Crystal Ocean after foaling a lovely colt this week by him
Elfile – it was only announced this week that Kenny Alexander’s Grade 3 winning daughter of Saint Des Saints (Cadoudal) has been retired and her first port of call is a mating with Crystal Ocean. Twice successful in France, she won four hurdle races, was runner-up in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 and placed in the Grade 1 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham
La Bague Au Roi – Kevin Doyle added to his broodmare band in January when he paid £170,000 for this daughter of Doctor Dino (Muhtathir). Her 14 wins included the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton and the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown, and her half-sister Reine Angevine (Poliglote) was Grade 1-placed
Last Of The Bunch – owned by The Beeches Stud, this bumper and hurdle winning daughter of Silver Patriarch (Saddlers’ Hall) is the dam of three winners with her first three foals, and the best of these is RELEGATE (Flemensfirth) who won the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Paul McKeown’s good racemare will join her dam among this year’s book of mares for Crystal Ocean
Misty Whisky – Distillery Stud’s homebred listed bumper winner is a daughter of Stowaway (Slip Anchor) and she has just finished her racing career. Grade 2-paced over hurdles, she is a half-sister to the Grade 1-placed One For Rosie (Getaway) and from the immediate family of Grade 1 Gold Cup winner Native River (Indian River)
Moskovite – this will be a second time to visit Crystal Ocean for the daughter of Flemensfirth who was purchased by The Beeches Stud last year for €160,000. Graded-placed over hurdles and fences, this four-time winner is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Moyhenna (Westerner) and they are daughters of graded winner Moskova (Montjeu)
Petite Parisienne – Kieran Mariga’s Coolmara Stables is home to this daughter of Montmartre (Montjeu) who has the distinction of gaining both of her hurdle wins in Grade 1 contests, the Champion 4YO Hurdle at Punchestown and the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. She is the best of eight winners for her winning dam
Stephanie Frances – eight times a winner, this daughter of King’s Theatre (Sadler’s Wells) won a pair of listed hurdle races and a listed chase for Mandy Hall when trained by Dan Skelton. Her first offspring is a three-year-old son of Walk In The Park (Montjeu)
Whistle Dixie – a €230,000 purchase by The Beeches Stud three years ago, this daughter of Kayf Tara (Sadler’s Wells) was a graded-placed hurdler. Her three-parts brother Kicking King (Old Vic) won the Grade 1 Gold Cup and the Grade 1 King George VI Chase twice, while a three-parts sister is the dam of Grade 1 winning chaser Kalashnikov (Kalanisi).