Crystal Black - Another Melbourne Cup Contender for Teofilo

Tara Madgwick - Friday August 9

Outstanding Galileo stallion Teofilo has already sired three winners of the Melbourne Cup in Without a Fight (IRE), Twilight Payment (IRE) and Cross Counter (GB) with his six year-old gelding Crystal Black putting himself into the picture for this year’s race after winning the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.

Trained by Gerard Keane and ridden by Colin Keane, Crystal Black has been a star on the rise in the staying handicaps over the past 12 months and was a last start winner at Royal Ascot when he won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap beating a field of 19.

Advertisement

Crystal Black was having his first crack at a Group race in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown and bolted clear to win by five lengths with connections immediately announcing plans to come to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

“He relaxed and switched off better than I thought Crystal Black would, quickened up and got there sooner than I wanted. He was inclined to go a bit left towards the rail but once against the rail he went true to the line. The aim is the Melbourne Cup,” said Colin Keane.

Crystal Black was purchased as a tried horse for 35,000 guineas.

A big horse that has the overall record of seven wins from 19 starts, Crystal Black was bred and raced originally by Moyglare Stud , who then sold him through the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale for 35,000 guineas to Midland Equine and he now runs for the Wear a Pink ribbon syndicate that includes some 200 owners.

Crystal Black has also been entered for the Caulfield Cup. 

Crystal Black is the 116th stakes-winner for Teofilo and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Titanium Sky being the best of four winenrs from four to race from Group III winner She’s Our Mark.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Glorious Goodwood Day 1- Bluebloods, Bargains and Tragedy
The famed Glorious Goodwood meeting got underway overnight with three Group races contested that saw all of the favourites rolled with a new G1 winner for Justify, a first stakes-winner for a young Frankel sire son and a return to form for Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.
Promising Tagaloa Winner
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan went to Warwick Farm on Wednesday hoping she had a horse with a bright future and now she knows she has after two year-old colt Tambeloa relished a step up in trip to break his maiden.
Doomben Debut Winner for Anders
Widden Stud’s young gun Anders added a seventh first crop winner to his tally on Wednesday with a debut victory at Doomben for handsome chestnut gelding Anders’ Style.
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wakefield Gears Up for Another Busy Season
Wakefield Stud is preparing for another busy breeding season in 2025, as the business continues its re-emergence in the industry after coming under new ownership in 2024.