Cross Counter first British-trained winner of Melbourne Cup
Cross Counter, a stakes winner in England in the summer, gave Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trainer Charlie Appleby a first win in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday.
Cross Counter, one of two 3-year-olds in a field of 24, is the first British-trained runner of Australia’s most popular race, which had a purse of $5.07 million. The Melbourne Cup is run at two miles.
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Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Cross Counter (8-1) closed from the back of the field and overcame traffic issues twice to reach the front in the final 50 yards, winning by a length over 11-1 Marmelo, who was ninth in the race last year. A Prince of Arran (20-1) finished third. He was third in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup at Belmont Park in June.
A Prince of Arran led in the final furlong before being passed by Marmelo, who could not hold off the late run from Cross Counter.
Yucatan, the 5-1 favorite, ran 11th for Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, finishing 11 3/4 lengths behind Cross Counter. Sadly, the O’Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher suffered a shoulder injury in the first half-mile and could not be saved.
Cross Counter, a British-bred gelding by Teofilo, has won 5 of 8 starts. The Melbourne Cup was his first start away from Britain where he won the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 4 and was second in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at Doncaster on Aug. 22.