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Hall of Fame - Crystal Night
Original article written by Lori Hamill posted 15 years 2 weeks agoUndefeated……that very word conjures up images and feelings of someone never giving up, never giving in, and never letting anyone or anything pass you. Most racehorses, even the very best racehorses, lose a race or two. Maybe by a neck, maybe by a head bob, even the very best have a bad day once in a while. Not Crystal Night. He came through each and every time he stepped onto the turf. Head high with a majestic bearing that some said intimidated the other horses before the starting gates even opened. Surely, in Crystal Night’s mind, the race was already over before it ever started.
It was The Steward who picked the parents that would create this wonder horse, this horse that would not lose. She chose “Tulloch” a small but fast turf miler with a big heart, he had won the Steward’s Cup Turf Mile and he had won Champion Turf Horse of the year. He had bloodlines that included Kingmambo and Nearctic, Halo and Mr. Prospector. She matched him up with a tiny bay filly named “Tuzla”. Tuzla didn’t have much of a career, only four starts, no wins – her greatest achievements came as a broodmare. She had already produced four colts that had grossed over a million dollars in winnings before Crystal Night came along. Crystal Night was her crowning glory.
Crystal Night’s owner and trainer, Robin Tan, thought she had herself a nice turf sprinter the first time she laid eyes on the big black 2-year-old. At least that’s what she was hoping for. He already carried himself like a winner but she thought maybe he thought a little too much of himself. She entered him in a 6 furlong maiden race, at Paris Race Park in France. It was an eight-horse field, the first race for all but one, a grey named “Free Speeding.” A lot of the betting went toward trainer Ryen Hanna’s “Noble Dancer” the dark bay son of Kalanisi and Honor Bright. He was a full brother to “Notable Dancer” and great things were expected from this colt. Crystal Night loaded well, eager for his first race, the starting gates sprang open. Eight horses surged forward, in a few strides Crystal Night was already two lengths ahead. Noble Dancer gave chase but every time the dark bay got close, Crystal Night moved beyond his reach. He ran easily, as if this were nothing but a workout, toying with the dark bay, enjoying himself. It was no surprise when he crossed the finish line three lengths in front of Noble Dancer and eight lengths in front of the rest of the field. As he stood in the winners circle, Robin Tan marveled that her colt wasn’t even breathing hard. She began to realize that she had something very special here and Crystal Night would run only in stakes races from this time on.
Crystal Night raced three more times as 2-year-old, winning the “Dewherst Stakes” and “Champagne Stakes” at London Gallops in England. He wrapped up his juvenile season at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan where he easily won the “Hakodate Sansai Stakes”.
He opened up his 3-year-old campaign back in Paris for the “Studs Gladness Stakes” at 7 furlongs. A few weeks later it was the $500,000 “Prix Maurice de Ghesst” finishing over eight lengths ahead of the nearest competition. Robin Tan began wondering just how special this colt really was. She decided to stretch him out a bit and entered him in “Champange Lanson Sussex Stakes 3” at London Gallops and run over a mile turf course. He breezed through it, crossing the finish line under wraps and cantering. There seemed to be no bottom to this colt. Robin thought, perhaps putting him into a route race might prove a challenge for her turf sprinter. She was concerned that since his wins had come so easily, the big colt might become bored. She shopped carefully for the perfect route race for her star.
She settled on the “Judmonte International” stakes at London Gallops at one-mile-and-five-sixteenths and he won by only 5 lengths. Not even winded. Next came the 2 million dollar “Irish Champion Stakes” at Ireland Racecourse at one-and-a-quarter miles. The only horse to come within striking distance of him was Bob Olivia’s “Hero of the Wind” a distant second. It seemed logical that the next step should be “The Steward’s Cup Turf” at one-mile-and-a-half for another 2 million dollars. This race would be special; Crystal Night would be facing all of the best turf routers from the States and Canada. This would also prove to be Crystal Night’s toughest challenge.
Brianna McKensie’s “Mixed Bizness” and Jon Xett’s “Stalking Horse” challenged Crystal Night throughout the race; they were joined by Isabella Penzance’s “Tropicaldepression” in the home stretch. Every time it seemed that one of them might break through, might pass him, Crystal Night stuck his nose out farther. Tugging at the bit, his heart and his anger kept him going even after his legs wanted to give up. He was under the wire half-a-length in front of Tropicaldepression.
As a four-year-old, Crystal Night won the “Prix du Jockey Club” stakes, the “Desert Sheema Classic Invitation Only” stakes, the “Queen George VI and Queen Elizabedth” stakes, he defended his title in the “Irish Champion” stakes and finished his racing career by winning the 3 million dollar “Japan Cup”. Crystal Night had total earnings of $8,383,200 from his 15 starts.
During his racing career he was voted European Champion Two Year Old Colt; European Champion Three Year Old Colt; European Horse of the Year; Champion Male Turf Horse; and European Champion Older Horse.
He carried his winning into the breeding shed with his progeny earning in excess of 43 million dollars. Many of his top runners are themselves legends today. A few of his more well-known offspring include Shatterproof ($10,000,000); Resonance ($3,000,000); Fiji Nights ($3,000,000); Heartshattering ($3,000,000); Afterdark ($2,000,000); Tear Streaked ($1,000,000); Streamlined ($1,000,000); It’s Okay to Trust ($1,000,000); Singsweetnitengale ($1,000,000); and Superlative ($1,000,000).
Looking at Crystal Night’s career, both on the track and off, it is obvious how much he has given to the SIM. Many of his offspring still have an impact today and their children help to carry on the grand tradition that their sire started.