Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat
Crystal Black made a return to action in the Alleged Stakes in April, finishing seven lengths adrift of Galen in fourth to end his winning streak.
He subsequently underwent a wind procedure and Keane is looking forward to his stable star kick-starting his 2025 campaign, as he lines up a tilt at the final Irish Classic of season next month.
'He's coming along, he had a little bit of a hobday,' Keane said.
'So he's coming along well, we are happy with his work and as good as we can have him without a run. He's probably 90 per cent so it's a nice little race to start him back with. As long as he runs a nice race, we'll be happy.
'He's got an entry in the (Irish) Leger, so that is the plan if we think he is good enough to run in that, but that's in a month's time.
'That's the plan – Ballyroan, the Leger – and then after that we will see what's happening then.'
Six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane is aboard for his father in the Group Three contest over a mile and a half.
Sons And Lovers goes for Joseph O'Brien, the Noel Meade-trained Group-winning Layfayette also starts and Jessica Harrington has entered Sea The Boss.
Johnny Murtagh's Siege Of Troy and This Songisforyou, trained by Emmet Mullins, complete the six-runner line-up.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
19 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Pride Of Arras returns to form with Voltigeur victory
Pride Of Arras made a brilliant return to the scene of his finest hour to claim a Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York as dual Derby hero Lambourn misfired. An impressive winner of the Dante on the Knavesmire earlier in the season, Ralph Beckett's charge has proven no match for Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn in both the Derby and Irish equivalent earlier in the season. Sent off 12-1 in his first outing since being gelded, Rossa Ryan was in no rush as the 4-5 favourite Lambourn was immediately gunned to the front by Ryan Moore to keep close tabs on stablemate Thrice who was undertaking pacemaking duties. However, unlike in his two Classic triumphs, Lambourn was unable to shrug off his rivals and with the pack swarming, it was Pride Of Arras who hit top gear up at the right time up the long home straight to return a length verdict over Paddy Twomey's previously unbeaten Carmers. Lambourn ended up a well-held fifth, with William Haggas' Arabian Force another to stay on from the rear to take third ahead of Ballydoyle's Stay True.
North Wales Chronicle
34 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lady Iman leads 17-strong Nunthorpe field
Ger Lyon's youngster has dazzled throughout the current campaign and was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after advertising her claims in the Molecomb at Goodwood last time. She is joined in a mouthwatering feature on day three of the Ebor Festival by a stellar cast of sprinting talent, with fellow Irish raiders including Adrian Murray's Sapphire Stakes scorer Arizona Blaze and Jack Davison's ultra-consistent stable star She's Quality. 'She was cantering all over the back of them at the two and I ended up getting there too early' Nunthorpe next for LADY IMAN following her easy win in the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood #Starman — Tally-Ho Stud (@HoStud) July 30, 2025 Australian ace Asfoora will continue her European odyssey and attempt to better last year's fourth in this race for trainer Henry Dwyer, while Washington Heights was sixth 12 months ago and is one of two in the race for Kevin Ryan alongside Ain't Nobody. Ed Walker is another handler with two in the mix as he saddles both Mgheera and last year's Lowther Stakes winner Celandine, with John and Sean Quinn putting their faith in King George Stakes winner Jm Jungle to continue his progress through the ranks at a track he knows well. Fellow course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to the Knavesmire looking to give Richard Hughes a first win as a trainer in a race he twice conquered as a jockey, while other notable names include Michael Bell's two-year-old Spicy Marg and Jonathan Portman's Rumstar, who like Lady Iman have been supplemented into the contest. In the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes, John and Thady Gosden's emphatic Gold Cup winner Trawlerman is the standout name in a field of six that also includes stablemate and standing dish of the staying division Sweet William. Karl Burke's Al Qareem brings strong course form to the table, while Tom Clover's Al Nayyir was beaten a short head in this last year and returns to correct the record after a similar narrow defeat at Sandown last time. A field of eight will line-up for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Walker's Do Or Do Not has the chance for a first victory at Group level.
North Wales Chronicle
36 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
More Oaks glory beckons for Minnie Hauk
Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Frankel has proved tough as teak this season and took her winning run to four when adding to her Oaks success at Epsom in the Irish equivalent last month. Having worn down high-class stablemate Whirl – herself a dual Group one scorer since – late in the day at Epsom, Minnie Hauk again showed her staying prowess when doubling her Classic tally at the Curragh. With O'Brien holding all the aces in this Group One he has won nine times, Minnie Hauk is his trump card and it is difficult to see any of her rivals having both the class and resolve to outlast this outstanding filly up the Knavesmire's long home straight. She can add a third Oaks of the year here and begin dreams of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory for her ever-dominant team. The action begins with a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes where the intertwining form lines of the six-furlong juvenile division will be put to the test. Ed Walker's Royal Fixation and Tim Easterby's Argentine Tango both represent the high-class Venetian Sun form from Newmarket's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter – who would be a popular local winner – also chasing home Nunthorpe favourite Lady Iman at Goodwood. However, it was hard not to be impresses with the way America Queen breezed her way to victory on debut at Haydock last month in the manner of an ultra-smart animal. Holes can easily be picked in the form of that race, but judged on visuals, Richard Hughes' youngster was one of the most impressive of the season to date and with Ryan Moore booked to take the ride a bold bid is predicted. Clive Cox is the man to follow in the Harry's Half Million By Goffs where Song Of The Clyde can follow in the footsteps of Dragon Leader and Diligently to land the huge bounty for a third year in a row. Yet to be dipped into deep waters, the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt beat a subsequent winner when opening his account at Chester on his second start and was not asked any serious questions when chasing home Ralph Beckett's Gimcrack hope Egoli at Newbury most recently. The owners also run Rod Millman's Anthelia who is sure to be shorter in the betting following her Super Sprint triumph at Newbury, but while she may have already enjoyed her moment in the sun, there is a chance Song Of The Clyde has his best days ahead of him. Remmooz enjoyed stepping up to a mile when scoring over course and distance last month and looks good value for just a 4lb raise in the Clipper Handicap. The only defeat of his career has come when a respectable fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise to see Owen Burrows' colt return to stakes company before the year is out. Paddy Twomey's Irish raider Bonus Time is another progressive performer to keep onside in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap after scooping a valuable prize at Naas at the beginning of the month. SELECTIONS: CHELMSFORD: 5.30 Harswell Duke, 6.00 Isambard Kingdom, 6.30 Parole Officer, 7.00 Reliable Ricki, 7.30 Brother Dave, 8.00 Invincible Love, 8.30 Poetic Jack, 9.00 Pebble Island. KILLARNEY: 4.32 Urgent Whisper, 5.07 Bowensonfire, 5.37 Emily Love, 6.07 What's Up Darling, 6.37 Gaelic Des Chastys, 7.07 Pride Of Place, 7.37 Wonleg, 8.07 Max Goodwin. LINGFIELD: 2.00 Merci Monsieur, 2.35 Mezcala, 3.10 So Sassy, 3.45 Fram Castle, 4.20 Harpsichord, 4.55 Sugar Kane. LEOPARDSTOWN: 4.50 Josh's Joy, 5.25 Saxon Grace, 5.55 Clever And Classy, 6.25 Defiantly, 6.55 Colpe Cross, 7.25 Take Me, 7.55 Tachos. NEWCASTLE: 5.45 Road To Wembley, 6.15 Ribble Vibe, 6.45 Bragbor, 7.15 Streets Of Gold, 7.45 Pixie Diva, 8.15 Believe The Storm, 8.45 Arctic Voyage NEWTON ABBOT: 2.10 Three Pikes, 2.45 Lady Henrietta, 3.20 Cave Article, 3.55 Hope Rising, 4.25 Fringill Dike, 5.00 Faded Fantasy, 5.35 Magic Seven. YORK: 1.50 America Queen, 2.25 SONG OF THE CLYDE (NAP), 3.00 Remmooz, 3.35 Minnie Hauk, 4.10 Alice Monet, 4.45 Ballistic Missile, 5.20 Bonus Time. DOUBLE: Song Of The Clyde and Bonus Time.
