Goodwood Group Glory for Coppull

As the heaven’s opened before he crossed the line, Coppull braved the biblical downpour at Goodwood to claim his title in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes over six furlongs yesterday (31^st July).

Having already shown smart form in two starts prior to this, he made the perfect start by winning his debut in a Leicester maiden that’s worked out well, before running a fine race to finish third in the Coventry Stakes Group 2 at Royal Ascot. Yesterday, he took another big step forward, securing his first Pattern-race success in an unforgettable fashion.

Racing on the near side, Coppull was always prominent, perfectly positioned up against the rail where the action unfolded. Under a confident ride from David Probert, he led his group patiently before taking over with two furlongs from home. Sprinting home strongly, in torrential rain, he won comfortably with an impressive two lengths to spare.

This victory marks him out as an exciting juvenile sprinter, and all roads now lead to the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. He also holds entries in the Prix de Morny (Group 1) in Deauville, and the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) at York, where he will now have a 3lbs penalty so watch this space. He’s a very gifted sprinter, with a blend of raw speed and developing maturity, and he’s shaping into a colt who could stay competitive at the top level into his three-year-old campaign.

For now, his Goodwood glory stands as a richly deserved reward for the team at home, as we celebrate victory in this race for the third time. A huge congratulations to his owners and breeders, David and Sophie Armstrong, who have a very talented horse to move forwards with.