MELBOURNE COUP!
British trio make history Down Under with 1-2-3
Charlie appleby and Godolphin rewrote the history books in style when Cross Counter led home a stunning British 1-2-3 in the lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Superbly ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy, himself partnering a third winner of the prestigious staying event, the son of Teofilo produced a stunning late charge to swoop past fellow Northern hemisphere raiders Marmelo and a Prince Of arran and win going away at the line.
it is the first time in the race’s history that a British-trained horse has won the Cup. For appleby the victory represents a climax to a stellar season which has seen him win the Derby with Masar, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with line Of Duty and secure an impressive haul of 12 top-tier events.
he said: ‘For me it’s obviously very special, but for the team it’s just fantastic. i’ve spoken to his highness (Sheik Mohammed) and he’s over the moon about this result — it’s a challenge that’s been a long road. it’s a day i will never forget.’ australian Mcevoy added: ‘What a thrill —to do it for Sheik Mohammed and Charlie appleby. Well done to Charlie and this little horse.’ Marmelo, trained by hughie Morrison, and a Prince Of arran, winner of the lexus Stakes just three days before for Newmarket handler Charlie Fellowes, looked likely to end the British hoodoo until Cross Counter’s late charge. aidan O’Brien-trained Cliffs Of Moher, last year’s Derby runnerup, was put down after fracturing a shoulder in the two-mile race.