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The Gerard Keane-trained Crystal Black made the successful step up into Group company with an easy victory in the twelve-furlong Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening and booked a possible trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.
A top three finish was required for Crystal Black to qualify for the Melbourne Cup and the six-year-old delivered in style, travelling strongly in the rear under a patient ride from Colin Keane. With two furlongs to run, Keane asked the gelding to pick up the pace and he accelerated smoothly to second-place, kicking clear of The Euphrates at the furlong-marker. Crystal Black continued to widen the margin all the way to the line, recording a five length victory over Aidan O'Brien's charge with Safecracker back in third.
In an interview with Racing TV, jockey Colin Keane, son of trainer Gerard Keane said: "As I said at Ascot, that was one of the biggest kicks I've had from riding a winner, especially for the old man and at Ascot, for those bunch of lads [owners, Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate].
"He switched off better than I thought he would, quickened up even better than I thought he would, got there a little sooner than I would have liked. From 77 [official rating] to a Group 3, that's some horse!
"We thought he'd be a solid handicapper to be honest and with luck, going jumping because he's such a big horse. When he started winning, that ruled out jumping in case something ended up happening to him and he probably won't now.
"It's hard to believe it, or even fathom it [the Melbourne Cup]. To get over today was the main plan and I suppose now, that's the next plan to try and aim for that. Hopefully we can get him there and pass all that he needs to get there, but it's exciting times."
It has been an impressive upward trajectory for Crystal Black, who recorded a big handicap win over ten furlongs at the Curragh in early September 2023 and has remained unbeaten in four starts since. Successful over a mile at the start of this season, he gave the Keane family and winning owners Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate a day to remember when taking the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes over twelve furlongs at Royal Ascot.
Paddy Power reacted to the win by shortening Crystal Black from 16/1 to 12/1 for the Melbourne Cup.
