Hector Crouch

Starfield Stud's first-season sire Dubawi Legend was the latest of his group to get off the mark on Friday as his son Metamouse scored at Chester. Fourth on debut at Chepstow last month, the David Loughnane-trained €18,000 Tattersalls Ireland September purchase was sent off at 7-2 for the six-furlong contest and raced under cover early. Delivered by Hector Crouch to lead inside the final furlong, the colt who races for Beadle Brookes Racing asserted to score by 2 3/4 lengths from Koodini (Kodi Bear). "I got a lovely, smooth run around...

Ballylinch Stud resident Bayside Boy (New Bay) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Ralph Beckett-trained son Blessed Voyager shed maiden status at the first time of asking in Friday's Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury. The 11-1 chance, his sire's second representative to hit the track, was positioned within range of the leaders racing fifth through the initial fractions. Making smooth headway once past halfway, he launched his challenge on the stands' side entering the final furlong and was pushed out to...

Ralph Beckett trainee Lady Roisia (St Mark's Basilica), who is a daughter of G1 Oaks heroine Talent (New Approach), backed up a promising debut third at Leicester last month with a game half-length victory in Thursday's EBF Oh So Sharp Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Nottingham, becoming the 17th winner for her freshman sire (by Siyouni). "It was strong form from Leicester and she was entitled to take a nice step forward," said winning rider Hector Crouch. "She moved into contention well today and I thought she would go and kick...

Britain's clean sweep of Deauville's valuable juvenile Arqana Series races was completed in style on Thursday by Valmont's Cape Orator (Mohaather) in the 6 1/2-furlong Criterium d'Ete. Off the mark for the Ralph Beckett stable at Kempton in June, the 15-1 shot cut loose approaching the final furlong and surged to a 3 1/2-length verdict over Street Show (Showcasing), the only French-trained two-year-old to make the first two in the trio of sales races. "We've always thought he was a very good horse, it's just taken a long time for...

All the rage ahead of Friday's British EBF Quidhampton Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury, Valmont and Ballylinch Stud's Ralph Beckett-trained Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Zindaya, by More Than Ready) produced all the expected pyrotechnics to become her sire's 17th TDN Rising Star. Always travelling with intent under Hector Crouch shadowing the leader in this seven-furlong test, the 4-5 favourite was shaken up approaching the furlong pole and responded with zest to bound 4 3/4 lengths clear of Jowddah (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) who had been second in a Newmarket...

Ralph Beckett trainee Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire), made a winning debut in Sunday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester. The May-foaled bay, let go as the 2-1 favourite, registered a 1 1/2-length success from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the straight seven-furlong contest. 2nd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 8-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.77, g/f. MATAURI BAY (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega...

Fourth in the Oaks and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) made the necessary improvement on Saturday to clinch the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. Reserved by Hector Crouch in mid-division throughout the early stages in contrast to the forceful ride she was given at Royal Ascot, the well-supported 15-2 shot moved to the front a furlong out with the 3-1 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in hot pursuit. Where Content had met...

In scenes reminiscent of Wednesday's Listed Cheshire Oaks, Saturday's Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield resulted in a Ralph Beckett-trained filly getting to the line ahead of a Ballydoyle runner with You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) on top where it mattered. Last seen finishing fifth in Newmarket's Listed Montrose Fillies' S. in November, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud's 200,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 purchase set off at a demanding clip under Hector Crouch while her rivals were under restraint waiting for her to crack....

Fitri Hay's dual nursery handicap second Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}--Beyond Desire {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), notched a quickfire double at Chelmsford and Newbury earlier in the year and took a step up the ladder with a narrow verdict in Saturday's G3 Unibet Zero% Mission Sirenia S. at Kempton, his sixth straight start going six furlongs. With tasks made easier by the scratching of 'TDN Rising Star' Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), Starlust went postward as the 2-1 second favourite and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in sixth before...

Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Cercle De La Vie {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail...

A pair of Bahrain-based horses won the third and fourth Bahrain Turf Series races--the Al Riffa Cup and Al Dana Cup--in Riyadh on Friday. Dark Shadow (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), in the hands of Hector Crouch, produced a sharp turn of foot over 1200 metres to fend off a challenger in the closing stages of the Al Riffa Cup and returned to the winner's enclosure in the familiar colours of Al Mohamediya Racing. "It all went pretty smoothly for me," said Crouch. "We were drawn high and he's a horse...