Talking Horses: Crystal Ocean was the best runner-up a star could want


He rarely got top billing but the doughty veteran played a vital part in many big races and made them memorable

Crystal Ocean, whose career has been ended by a leg injury, will not be remembered as one of the greats but anyone who cares about horse racing should pray every night for more horses like him, excellent, top-class animals who are not quite the best around. If you’re not persuaded, let’s consider how much less interesting recent Flat racing in Britain would have been without him.

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Chester 1.50 Cognac 2.25 Powertrain 3.00 Trinity Lake 3.30 Sir Maximilian 4.05 Mayne 4.40 Hereby 5.15 Salam Zayed (nb)

Doncaster 2.10 Servalan 2.40 Saroog 3.10 Stradivarius 3.45 Alligator Alley 4.20 Visinari 4.55 Talap 5.30 Citron Major 6.00 Banksea

Sandown 2.20 Spreadsheet 2.50 Rewaayat 3.20 Miss Yoda 3.55 Casanova 4.30 Tukhoom 5.05 Gleeful 5.35 Skyman

Salisbury 4.35 Red Missile 5.10 Royal Ambition 5.40 Love Powerful 6.10 Grisons (nap) 6.40 King's Advice 7.10 Tonyx

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