Dettori again as Crystal Ocean makes Group 1 breakthrough in Prince of Wales's

Crystal Ocean finally gained a deserved Group 1 success with a strong staying performance in a rain-soaked running of the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Frankie Dettori gave the Sir Michael Stoute-trained 3-1 shot a positive ride and the five-year-old kept finding for pressure to hold off 13-8 favourite Magical.

The first two home were the only runners to really get into the race, with Waldgeist (4-1) finishing some three and a quarter lengths back in third.

Prince of Wales's Stakes: view the race replay and the result here

Crystal Ocean had finished second on all three of his previous attempts at the highest level, including twice at Ascot in last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes.

Equally effective over a mile and a half, the Sir Evelyn de Rothschild-owned Crystal Ocean was suited by the testing conditions and Dettori always had his mount in a prominent position before taking the lead turning into the home straight.

As Magical attempted to challenge Crystal Ocean, she was switched to the inside by Ryan Moore for a final run in the closing stages but could not match the winner's stamina.

Dettori, riding his second winner of the day after landing the Queen Mary on Raffle Prize, said: "I knew he stays really well so I kicked him early and I didn't hear anything coming. He was still full of running and I didn't feel she [Magical] would get past me. Everything went to plan."

Crystal Ocean provided Stoute with an 80th victory at a meeting where he has had more winners than any other trainer.

"He's a high-class horse and I'm delighted to win a Group 1 with him," the trainer said. "He's just a very admirable racehorse and there has been great teamwork here."

Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Sea Of Class, who was only given the go-ahead before the race with the soft ground causing concern, never got involved on her seasonal comeback and trailed home in fifth.

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