In 2019 he won his first Group One race when taking the Prince of Wales's Stakes but was retired to stud in September 2019 after suffered a career-ending leg injury on the gallops.

Ridden by Ted Durcan he went to the front approaching the last quarter mile and pulled clear of his rivals before being eased down to win by a length from Okool.

[6] Four weeks later the colt was stepped up sharply in class for the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for the Epsom Derby) at York Racecourse in which he was partnered by Andrea Atzeni.

At Royal Ascot in June Crystal Ocean was made the 9/4 favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes but was beaten into third by Permian and Khalidi.

Crystal Ocean's next run was at Goodwood Racecourse when he was ridden by Moore in the Gordon Stakes, a race which often serves as a trial for the St Leger.

Starting the 6/4 favourite he reversed the Ascot form as he beat Khalidi "comfortably" by three and a half lengths despite hanging right (towards the inside rail) in the closing stages.

[15] On 28 July, over the same course and distance as his Hardwicke victory, Crystal Ocean was ridden by William Buick and started the 6/4 favourite for the 68th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

After tracking the front-running Knight To Behold, Crystal Ocean went to the front two furlongs from the finish and drew away to win "very readily" by two and a quarter lengths.

[20] On 19 June Crystal Ocean was partnered by Frankie Dettori when he ran for the third time at Royal Ascot and started the 3/1 second favourite behind Magical in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Dettori positioned Crystal Ocean in second place behind the front-running Hunting Horn before switching his mount to the wide outside to make his challenge in the straight.

"[22] On 27 July Crystal Ocean made his second attempt to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and started the 7/2 second favourite behind Enable.

After racing in mid division he made rapid progress on the outside to take the lead in the straight but was beaten a neck by Enable after a sustained struggle over the final furlong.

A spokesman for Evelyn de Rothschild explained "Crystal Ocean has had two screws inserted in a hind cannon bone and has come through the surgery successfully.