Crystal Ocean winning the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot© Photo Healy Racing
The Qipco Irish Champion Stakes is one of several options under consideration for Sir Michael Stoute’s high-class performer Crystal Ocean.
The four-year-old kicked off the season with victory over a mile and a quarter in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown before stepping up to a mile a and half to win a Group Three at Newbury and the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was touched off by stablemate Poet’s Word in the King George last month, but pulled a long way clear of the third and connections would not be afraid to drop him back in distance at Leopardstown on September 15.
Stoute’s assistant, James Horton, said: “He only did his first loosener since the King George on Saturday morning and he looks to have come out of the race really well.
“He has got a lot of options at the end of the season. There are options in Ireland, France and here for him.
“I don’t think you would be afraid of dropping him back to a mile and a quarter if we needed to.
“We will just how he comes along and then map out a campaign.”
