Crystal Ocean posts career best to see off Magical in Prince of Wales's Stakes

Crystal Ocean produced the performance of the week so far to win a high-quality renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes, looking better than ever in seeing off the challenge of Magical for a career-best Racing Post Rating of 128.

An easy winner of a couple of Group 3s in preparation for this contest, Crystal Ocean has a profile that suggests there could be further improvement in him this year and a return to a mile and a half in the King George could see him rate higher still. A peak-form Enable would require him to reach a higher level in order to go one better than last year in the midsummer showpiece, but he's clearly the best of the rest behind the dual Arc winner.

The race played out well tactically with the pace holding out. Pacemaker Hunting Horn finished closer than entitled on this year's form, though he did run a career best over course and distance when winning the Hampton Court Stakes last year. However, Magical appeared to have no excuses and she ran as well as ever with an RPR of 123.