Crouch delivers double triumph with Coppell in Hungerford, Wine Dark Sea eyes Melbourne Cup

At Newbury’s Group Two Hungerford Stakes, three-year-old Coppell, trained by Clive Cox, stretched to seven furlongs and, guided by Hector Crouch, broke away two and a half furlongs from the finish to win by one-and-quarter lengths at 15-2 odds, delivering Crouch a rare double on the card. Crouch praised the colt’s class and likened him to former champion Lethal Force, suggesting possible entries in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Park Stakes later in the season.

Earlier, Crouch also rode Wine Dark Sea to a decisive victory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes, a performance that secured the gelding’s place in the upcoming Melbourne Cup after a recent share purchase by Australian Bloodstock. Trainer Harry Charlton confirmed the horse will travel to Australia and enter quarantine on September 9. William Haggas’ Dubai Honour finished third in the Freer, while the wins expand options for both horses as the summer racing calendar progresses.