Coppull rose to the occasion when he was asked to stretch out his distance, securing the second Group Two victory of his career under a daring ride from jockey Hector Crouch. The win came in the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, delivering a memorable double for Crouch on the same card.
The three‑year‑old colt, trained by Clive Cox, had previously finished third in the July Cup, but connections opted for a bold step up to seven furlongs. The gamble paid off handsomely, giving the rider a treble on the day and confirming Coppoll’s versatility beyond sprint distances. Crouck’s tactics were striking. As the field turned into the final two‑and‑a‑half furlongs, he guided Coppoll away from the main pack, moving to the far side of the track and establishing a three‑horse breakaway.
That move proved decisive, as the outer line turned out to be quicker, allowing Coppoll to pull clear and maintain a strong finish. The strategy was a masterstroke.
The Bated Breath‑owned colt held on powerfully to clinch the £93,571 prize, edging out Prince Of India by one and a quarter lengths at 15‑2 odds. The runner‑up, Prince Of India, was quoted at 14‑1, while the third‑placed horse, the 5‑2 favourite Symbol Of Honour, finished three‑quarters of a length behind the winner, completing the breakaway trio. Cox, who credited Crouch with the decision to swing to the far side, said the victory over seven furlongs opens up a range of options for the rest of the season.
"He was unlucky not to be placed in the July Cup, but he always gave me the impression he could stretch another furlong, even as a two‑year‑old when he ran so well in the Coventry," Cox told ITV Racing. "He has a lot of class and reminds me a great deal of Lethal Force, who won this race in 2012 and then became champion sprinter the following year." Cox added that while Coppoll still possesses the speed for six‑furlong sprints, he is not entirely convinced the horse prefers very soft ground. "With the dry summer we’ve had, we now have choices.
If he comes back in good shape we could still target the Haydock Sprint Cup, which would give us confidence after today’s performance. We also have the Group Two Park Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster, though he would carry a penalty there." Beyond Coppoll’s story, the card also featured a notable win by Wine Dark Sea in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury. The four‑year‑old gelding, trained by Harry Charlton, produced a flawless run under Crouch, securing a place in the upcoming Melbourne Cup.
Backed 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 the 2‑1 favourite Dubai Honour finishing a neck behind in third. Charlton confirmed that the Melbourne Cup is the next target for the improving gelding, who will head into quarantine on September 9. "The intention today was simply to finish third to aid his ballot for the Melbourne Cup, and he has exceeded that," Charlton explained. He noted the differing approaches between Australian and British racing officials regarding handicap marks.
Wine Dark Sea’s résumé includes impressive handicap victories at Ascot and Carlisle earlier in the season, though a fifth‑place finish at Newmarket’s July meeting highlighted the challenges of travel and track conditions. Charlton attributed that performance to the rigors of a long journey and a stiff finish on a hot day.
"He broke the track record at Carlisle carrying top weight, so you can’t expect an easy race, especially after an eight‑hour trip in a heatwave. Ten days later we saw a slightly flat horse," Charlton said.
Looking ahead, Charlton’s brother Tom, who trains in Australia and also has a Melbourne Cup runner, will coordinate logistics. "We have a team heading down with the horse, and we’ll be training out of the quarantine barn at Ballarat," Harry Charlton added. Overall, the Hungerford Stakes delivered a compelling narrative of tactical brilliance, versatile talent, and future ambitions, underscoring the depth of skill among trainers, jockeys, and owners in the current racing season.