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...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.