Prance’N’Dance ends lean run for trainer John Croucher
I hope you have all had a great start to 2022.
John Croucher was overjoyed with the victory of Prance’N’Dance at Morphettville Parks, the trainer’s first winner at the races in more than 3½ years.
Gordon Armstrong
February 5, 2022 – 8:11PM
News Corp Racing and Sports Wagering Hub
Emotions flowed for trainer John Croucher, wife Dianne and a host of syndicate members as their promising two-year-old Prance’N’Dance ($7) saluted in a 1000m Class 1 at Morphettville on Saturday, Croucher’s first win since July 2018.
Bought at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sales for $18,000 and broken in by the Crouchers, the winner was ridden to perfection by Dom Tourneur and roared on by a vocal group of syndicate members and supporters from the stands and lawns.
Croucher, whose last winner was with Last Witness at the Parks track in July 2018, said it was a huge thrill to watch his horse get home at her second start – driving hard late to get over Biographer and Forager in third place.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck with buying horses online so to have a winner like this one which we bought and then broke in was a big thrill. The horse has a great temperament and is easy to handle,’’ Croucher said.
“Dianne straps the horse down the track about 5.30 in the morning. And our son Simon is the syndicator for our horses, so it is a real family connection.
“We usually have three (horses) in work but we threw out two so this is the only one at the moment. She might go for something like the Cinderella Stakes but we will enjoy this one first.’’
Croucher’s biggest win as a trainer came in the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day in 2010 when Atlantic Air won with former jockey Danny Nikolic on board.
