Friday 21 June 2019
They were headed by CRYSTAL OCEAN, who recorded a well-deserved first Group 1 success in a competitive renewal of the Gr.1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. The charge of Sir Michael Stoute was kept prominent throughout the race by Frankie Dettori, who sent him to the lead two furlongs from home to win comfortably, defeating six Group 1 winners in the process. The bay, who is owned by his breeder Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, has now won eight races and has never finished out of the first three in 15 outings to date.
He was followed in the winners’ enclosure by STRADIVARIUS on Thursday. The 2018 Weatherbys Hamilton Bonus winner was not to be beaten despite unfavourable ground conditions and he landed a second consecutive Gr.1 Gold Cup in brilliant style. His jockey Frankie Dettori, who was riding his fourth winner of the day said: “What an amazing horse he is. He got me out of trouble, he’s a horse for the big occasion and I love him dearly and the people love him. I’m only nervous because the people care so much about this horse. It’s a wonderful story for [his owner and breeder] Bjorn Nielsen, the stable and every time he runs, he delivers. It’s unbelievable." His trainer John Gosden added: "Full marks to a remarkable horse and remarkable jockey. He's a charming horse to be around." The chestnut has now won his most recent seven outings and is en route to attempt to win a second bonus this year.
The Italian jockey partnered another offspring of SEA THE STARS trained by John Gosden in the previous race on the card to enjoy similar success. The three-year-old filly STAR CATCHER was having her fourth start and ran out a convincing winner of the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes, denying the Gr.1 Oaks third Fleeting in second. Her owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer explained after the race: "I'm an extremely happy man. We knew she was very useful when she ran third at Newbury.”
SEA THE STARS was also represented by EAGLES BY DAY and EMINENCE who both placed third in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes and King George V Stakes respectively.
Updated on 21/06/2019.
