Japan edges out Crystal Ocean in International thriller

Japan edges out Crystal Ocean in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Picture: Steve Davies/Racingfotos.com

Japan edged out Crystal Ocean in a thrilling finish to the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

The pair served up a terrific climax to the extended ten-furlong showpiece, which forms part of the Middle Distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Ryan Moore on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Japan (5-1) just got the better of James Doyle on Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean.

Japan’s stablemate Circus Maximus set the pace with Crystal Ocean alongside him. Stoute’s admirable five-year-old hit the front a long way out, but could not get sufficiently clear of the opposition.

Although he knuckled down in typically game fashion, Crystal Ocean was caught by Japan in the dying strides and succumbed by a head to the Investec Derby third, who was giving O’Brien a record-equalling sixth win in the race, along with Stoute.

The supplemented Elarqam was a length away in third.

O’Brien said: “From the start he has been good and I couldn’t be happier.

“We didn’t want to overdo it earlier in the year as we were thinking of the autumn. We rushed him to the Dante and every run since then has been a step up – he’s stepping up all the way.

“Horses progress and you’re never sure which is the best. We don’t look at them like that home and let them progress from race to race.

“This horse would have no problem stepping back up in trip – he’s very comfortable at a mile and a half.”

Acknowledging another gallant performance from Crystal Ocean, whose season has also included victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and a neck second to Enable in the King George, Stoute said: “Yes all of that, just didn’t win.”

Mark Johnston was pleased to see the faith shown in Elarqam rewarded, but left slightly wondering what might have been.

The Middleham trainer said: “He was obviously very keen early on and he got caught off the bridle a couple out, but he has come back with a vengeance.

“Jim (Crowley) felt had he let him stride on early on then he might’ve won it. Had they come up the middle, as they have done in every race for the last five years, he might have won anyway.

“So it’s frustrating, but it certainly confirms beyond any doubts that he had class, so that’s reassuring.”

Fourth home was the John Gosden-trained King Of Comedy, for whom things did not go quite to plan.

Gosden said: “He stumbled out of the gate and was then too keen for three furlongs. He eventually settled into a rhythm, came with a nice looking run, but paid the price for having used too much petrol early.

“He’d have been a good third. He’s still quite young and I think when he learns to race more professionally he’ll give them a real race.

“We’ll back away now, we’re not going to go to Ireland, we’ll freshen him up, give him a racecourse gallop and go for the QEII [on QIPCO British Champions day on October 19].”