Deserved Breakthrough for Crouch (NZ) in Hawke’s Bay Cup

Previously a three-time placegetter in major Cup races, low-priced Karaka purchase Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino) broke through for a well-deserved win in the $120,000 Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Otaki on Saturday.

Crouch was offered by Mapperley Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2021 and was bought for just $20,000. He has now earned $421,155 from a 34-race career that has produced seven wins and six placings.

Until Saturday, Crouch’s attempts at the big staying races had produced a series of near-misses. He ran second behind Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) in last year’s $400,000 Group Three Wellington Cup (3200m), then returned 12 months later and was runner-up again in the same race – beaten by a short neck by Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor). He then went on to finish third in last month’s $200,000 Group Two Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).

But Saturday was Crouch’s day, and he earned his breakthrough win with a tough staying performance.

Ridden by Chris Dell, Crouch initially took up a midfield position in seventh, but then was set alight and surged forward to be three wide on the outside of the leaders leaving the back straight.

Crouch continued to press forward coming down the side of the track, and by the time the field rounded the home turn, the six-year-old had stuck his head in front.

Challengers emerged from the pack to try to reel him in, but Crouch never came back to them. He was still a length and three-quarters clear when he passed the finish line.

“He is just coming of age, if you look at his Wellington Cup run earlier and the Awapuni Cup run last time,” trainer and part-owner Mike Breslin said.

“Today there was a bit more cut in the track and I said to Chris, who hadn’t ridden him before, that the horse would maintain a gallop and that’s what he did.

“I’ve pencilled in the Sandown Cup (3200m), which is a two-mile race in Aussie in late May, as a possible target for him.”