Crystal Black steps up into Group 3 class to win Ballyroan Stakes

Royal Ascot winner Crystal Black made it four from four this season when stepping up to group company for the first time to run out an impressive winner of the Group 3 Xin Gin Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

A revelation over the last five months, the six-year-old has looked a progressive sort on each of his starts since making a winning reappearance at the Curragh in April.

Held up last of the four runners here under Colin Keane, the champion jockey was content to watch on, as The Euphrates led the way.

With Crypto Force and Safecracker pushed along to close entering the straight, Keane sat motionless on the 11/10f.

Coming through to take second over a furlong out, the Ger Keane trained gelding quickened up in impressive fashion to run out an easy five length winner.

Ger Keane said: “There is a bit of interest from Australia in him and there are negotiations going on that he might go for the Melbourne Cup.

“The lads want to hold onto half of him but we’ll know more in the next few days. If he was in the first three today that deal was on the table.

“It’s a kind of a fairytale really. He just keeps improving and improving.

“He had issues when we got him first with allergies and this year has just been amazing. You are always afraid that you are one run away from going over the top.”

Paddy Powers went 12/1(from 16/1) Crystal Black for the Melbourne Cup.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.