Surefire wins under Hector Crouch© Photo Healy Racing
The famous Juddmonte silks were carried to a poignant victory by Ralph Beckett’s Surefire (5-1) in the King George V Stakes.
It was a first Royal Ascot success for jockey Hector Crouch and possibly a final one celebrated by Teddy Grimthorpe, who steps down from his long-standing role as racing manager to the late Khalid Abdullah on Saturday.
A winner at Leicester 10 days ago, for which he picked up a penalty, the Fastneck Rock colt came with a run down the outside and held off the strong late challenge of Ryan Moore on Sir Lamorak to win by a neck.
Crouch said: “I wanted to get him rolling and to the outside and I knew he would be hard to stop.
“It’s such a privilege to ride in the Juddmonte silks — it’s my second winner for them and the first was only last week at Leicester.”
Beckett said: “He’s still a bit green, and showed that at Leicester last week.
“He did just lean in as he was about to hit the front, but it was too far out for the dreaded claxon to sound.
“He’s been a bit of a slow burner, but saw out this tough trip and I hope he will end up a Leger horse.”
