Crystal Black firms for Cup tilt

Crystal Black all but stamped his own passport in the early hours of Friday morning, Australian time, when he continued his winning run in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland.

The Gerard Keane -trained gelding crushed his rivals by five lengths in the 2412-metre Group 3, which was his fifth win in a row.

The son of Teofilo needed a top-three finish to pass the Lexus Melbourne Cup ballot clause and now he has done that, Keane's son and Crystal Black's regular rider, Colin Keane said travel plans now probably needed to be made.

"It's hard to believe it, or even fathom it," Keane in relation to Crystal Black being a Melbourne Cup contender.

"To get over today was the main plan and I suppose now, that's the next plan to try and aim for that (the Melbourne Cup)." - Gerard Keane

"Hopefully we can get him there and pass all that he needs to get there, but it's exciting times."

It was the second-straight Ballyroan Stakes success for Colin Keane, who partnered Vauban to victory last year.

That win sealed a trip to Australia for Vauban, who finished 14th as $5.50 favourite in last year's Melbourne Cup.

Vauban, like Crystal Black, won at Royal Ascot the start before the Ballyroan Stakes and Keane said his progression is why they are not putting any ceiling on the six-year-old.

"From 77 (official rating) to a Group 3, that's some horse," Keane said.

"We thought he'd be a solid handicapper to be honest and, with luck, going jumping because he's such a big horse." - Gerard Keane

"When he started winning, that ruled out jumping in case something ended up happening to him and he probably won't now."

Crystal Black now owns a place on the second line of Melbourne Cup betting, which is headed by Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire.