First British Cup win in Melbourne
CROSS Counter capped an “amazing” year for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin as he became the first British-trained winner of Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
The three-year-old was delivered with a perfectly-timed run by Kerrin McEvoy to claim the Group One prize and led home a famous onetwo-three for British-trained runners, with Hughie Morrison’s Marmelo a length back in second and the Charlie Fellowes-trained Prince Of Arran a further three lengths behind in third.
Cross Counter’s victory added another feather to Appleby’s cap with the trainer having sent out Masar to win the Derby at Epsom back in June in the blue silks of Godolphin.
The trainer said: “This is all down to Sheikh Mohammed, he’s the one that’s given us all the encouragement to take the chances in what we do internationally.
“When I saw him down the back, I thought he had to do a lot.
“And when he was making his run, I thought turning in that if he finds the gap then this horse has got the gears to pick up.”
Godolphin has hit the bar in the past with the likes of Give The Slip, Crime Scene and Central Park all having placed in the main event and Appleby himself is a previous visitor to Melbourne.
He told www.godolphin.com: “We’ve been competitive, but we’ve learnt more on each trip about what will make us more competitive. That’s what it’s all about, the learning curve. I’m just in a fortunate position to have the horses to make the call on which are the right ones to bring down here.”
Marmelo’s trainer Morrison was thrilled with his charge’s run, but felt conceding 9lb to the winner had proved crucial.
He said: “He gave him a lovely ride. We saw Hugh (Bowman) beforehand and he said we would ride on patience and I said that will do me. We all mature at different times and I suspect we’re less mature than the winner.
“He’s a great horse and we will have to go away and think about it.”
Bowman was hit hard by the Flemington stewards following the race, being handed a 35-meeting suspension relating to three separate issues.
He was given 12 meetings for a careless riding offence, eight meetings for using his whip excessively and 21 meetings after he weighed in more than half a kilogram over his prescribed weight of 55kg.
While the respective bans totalled 41 meetings, the stewards used their discretion to let the suspension to stand at 35 meetings, meaning that while Bowman will miss some highprofile rides on the likes of Irish Derby hero Latrobe in Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes, he will be free to ride at the Hong Kong International meeting in December.
Prince Of Arran only secured his place in the race with victory in the Lexus Stakes at the track on Saturday and Fellowes was delighted with his effort. He said: “It was an unbelievable run – I’m completely speechless. He (Michael Walker) gave him the most lovely ride. I think, on that ground, he possibly just got tired the last furlong or half a furlong.”
A total of seven British-trained runners went to post with Best Solution (eighth), Muntahaa (ninth), Nakeeta (12th) and Magic Circle (16th) all finishing out of the frame.
Magic Circle was well fancied for the race and trainer Ian Williams later reported he had broken a blood vessel during the race. Aidan O’Brien fielded three contenders with Rostropovich faring best in fifth, but the race was overshadowed by a fatal injury sustained by Cliffs Of Moher passing the post for the first time.
Joseph O’Brien was representing his father and told www.racing.com: “Unfortunately these things can happen to a horse galloping around a field at home. It’s very sad but it could have been worse. Ryan (Moore) could have fell or someone else could have got injured.”
Yucatan was among the favourites for the Ballydoyle team but he finished 11th, with pre-race rain resulting in a less than ideal surface for him. O’Brien added: “James McDonald said he travelled good, but the ground was a bit loose for him. He travelled good in the race but never really threatened in the straight. In Europe, whenever there is some juice in the ground he struggled.”
Racing Victoria vets found Yucatan was lame in the near foreleg after the race.