Coppull rose to the occasion when he was stretched out in distance, securing his second Group Two victory under a daring ride from Hector Crouch, who completed a notable double on the day at the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes held at Newbury. The three‑year‑old colt, trained by Clive Cox, had previously finished third in the July Cup, but the decision to test him over seven furlongs paid off in spectacular fashion for both horse and jockey, the latter also achieving a treble on the same card. From the start, Crouck displayed confidence, guiding Coppoll away from the main pack and positioning him on the far side of the track about two and a half furlongs from the finish.
He joined a small three‑horse breakaway that quickly proved to have the edge. As the race entered its final stages, Coppoll surged ahead with a decisive turn of foot, maintaining his momentum to the finish line. The colt, a progeny of Bated Breath, held on strongly enough to capture the £93,571 prize, edging out Prince Of India by one and a quarter lengths at 15‑2 odds, while the favourite Symbol Of Honour, who had also been part of the breakaway, finished a further three‑quarters of a length back at 5‑2.
Cox, who credited Crouch with the strategic choice to race on the far side, said the win over seven furlongs opens up a range of possibilities for the remainder of the season. "He was unlucky not to place at least in the July Cup," Cox told ITV Racing, "but he always gave me the impression that he could stretch another furlong, even as a two‑year‑old when he performed so well in the Coventry Stakes." He went on to compare Coppoll to the 2012 Hungerford winner Lethal Force, noting the similarity in class and potential. "He still possesses the speed for six furlongs, and while I'm not entirely convinced he thrives on very soft ground, the dry summer we’ve enjoyed gives us flexibility," Cox explained.
He added that, provided Coppoll stays healthy, the connections could target the Haydock Sprint Cup with added confidence, and they also have the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster on their radar, albeit with a penalty likely to be applied. In related news, Wine Dark Sea made a decisive move in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, positioning himself for a potential Melbourne Cup campaign. The four‑year‑old gelding, now partially owned by Australian Bloodstock, was ridden once again by Hector Crouch. Backed down from 13‑2 to 7‑2, Wine Dark Sea never looked vulnerable, pulling away from Tabletalk in the straight to win by a length and a half, with Dubai Honour, the 2‑1 favourite trained by William Haggas, finishing a neck behind in third place.
Trainer Harry Charlton confirmed that the Melbourne Cup is the next objective for the improving gelding, who is scheduled to enter quarantine on September 9. "The plan was to finish third to secure a ballot spot for the Melbourne Cup, and he exceeded that," Charlton said. He also noted the differing approaches of Australian connections regarding handicap marks. Wine Dark Sea’s recent form includes impressive handicap victories at Ascot and Carlisle earlier in the season, though he was only fifth when well‑supported at Newmarket’s July meeting.
Charlton attributed that sub‑par performance to the rigors of a long journey and a stiff finish on a Cumbrian track. "He broke the track record at Carlisle carrying top weight, so you can’t expect an easy race, especially after an eight‑hour travel in a heatwave.
Ten days later we saw a slightly flat horse," Charlton explained. He added that his brother Tom, who trains in Australia and also has a Melbourne Cup contender, will join a team heading to Australia, and that they will train the horse in the quarantine facility at Ballarat. The combined successes of Coppoll and Wine Dark Sea underscore the skill of their trainers and the strategic acumen of jockey Hector Crouch, whose bold tactics continue to deliver high‑profile victories across the British racing calendar.
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