Syndicate eyeing Classic glory with Royal Ascot winner and 'monster of a horse'

The Wear A Pink Ribbon syndicate are hoping to take on the big guns for Irish Classic glory with Royal Ascot winner Crystal Black after he finished runner-up in the Ballyroan Stakes last week on his comeback following a wind operation. 

The syndicate, whose name is inspired by a fundraising initiative by Cancer Society of Ireland, were on the crest of a wave last summer when Ger Keane's stable star won the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at the royal meeting and are now eyeing another big prize.

Syndicate member Neville Eager was enthused by Crystal Black's return under regular rider Colin Keane at Leopardstown and said the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh next month has long been the aim. 

"We were very happy with Crystal Black's return," he said. "At one point you'd have called him the winner but Colin said he took a blow a furlong and a half out and to finish as close as he did after that was great. 

"Our aim at the start of the year was the Irish St Leger but he had a wind op and was off for 117 days. It seems to have done the job but he was never going to be fully fit going to Leopardstown, so we were very happy. He hung a bit and Ger is of the opinion he might be a little bit better going right-handed."

Crystal Black: Royal Ascot winner being aimed at the Irish St LegerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Connections are still keen for him to line up in the Classic and Eager added: "He's a monster of a horse. If you look at the picture of him turning for home at Leopardstown, it's like something that would be running in a Gold Cup. It'd be great to have a runner in the Irish St Leger and be able to get a crack at some of the big guns."

The syndicate will be hoping for better luck than last autumn, when a potential tilt at the Melbourne Cup had to be shelved after a setback for Crystal Black late in the season. At that point he had won five in a row, having followed his Royal Ascot success with victory over subsequent Irish Cesarewitch winner The Euphrates in the Ballyroan.

The seven-year-old returned in April to finish fourth in a strong running of the Alleged Stakes and at Leopardstown last week he travelled powerfully to the two-furlong pole before being denied by the Joseph O'Brien-trained Sons And Lovers by half a length.

Eager added: "There's another race [Group 3 Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown] the day before the Irish St Leger and we'll see what Ger thinks. We're more than happy to follow his guidance. I doubt Australia is an option this time after he missed it last year and we're probably better staying at home."

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