Melbourne Cup Winner Returns Victorious

Cross Counter | Racingfotos.com

By

The reigning Melbourne Cup champion Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) led home stablemate Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for a well-received one-two for Godolphin in the G2 Al Tayer Motors Dubai Gold Cup to ignite a sensational World Cup meeting for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.

Making his first public appearance since his resounding triumph at Flemington in November, the 4-year-old enjoyed the perfect run just behind early leaders Red Galileo (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) and cruised into contention on the turn as Ispolini burst through on the rail to lay down his own challenge entering the straight. From then on it was only ever a question of which blue jacket would win, with Cross Counter matching Ispolini stride for stride and finally getting his head in front in the final furlong to win by a length.

For Charlie Appleby, who bounced from stayers to sprinters to annexe the following race with Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), and later added the Dubai Sheema Classic to his haul with Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), there was an obvious sense of relief to see Cross Counter bounce back from his efforts in Australia after wintering in Dubai.

He said, “It was a tough ask for him to go down there as a 3-year-old and to win it the way he did. It's always in the back of your mind, did it take a bit out of him? This was our first opportunity to run him since then and I think he's answered all the questions we need to know now. He's enjoying life and he's going the right way.”

Appleby continued, “I was pleased that Brett [Doyle, on Ispolini] got a nice run up the inside. He was in a nice pocket, Brett gave him a lovely ride and got him up the inside and gave him every chance of winning. Ispolini has lost nothing in defeat–Cross Counter, as we all know, is a Melbourne Cup winner and a horse with a very bright future ahead of him. I just spoke to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and we said we'd let it all calm down for the next week or so but we may head towards the Gold Cup.”

William Buick, who became the third jockey to ride a World Cup night treble after Jerry Bailey and Frankie Dettori, said, “I was always going to choose Cross Counter over Ispolini. He is a special horse for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Godolphin. The pace was a bit stop-start and I was very happy with the way he travelled and he finished off well. It is a great effort when you consider he has been off since the Melbourne Cup.”

The Freddy Head-trained Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran on strongly from towards the rear of the field to finish within three lengths of the leading duo. His owner-breeder George Strawbridge was greeted by Sheikh Mohammed in the parade ring just prior to the race and should, according to jockey Aurelien Lemaitre, enjoy plenty more days in the sun with his G1 Prix du Cadran winner.

“He ran very well,” said Lemaitre after his first ride at the meeting. “He was very relaxed. I was outpaced when they quickened and then he stayed on. He is still a bit young in his head. He only ran for the first time at the age of four and he will be better with age.”

From even farther back came Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}), who posted an admirable performance in fourth for Richard Gibson and Pan Sutong which could see the Hong Kong-based 6-year-old being aimed at European staying races this summer.

Pedigree Notes

The second foal of the listed-placed Kingmambo mare Waitress, the Godolphin homebred Cross Counter becomes the second-highest earner for his Darley sire Teofilo after Happy Clapper (Aus). A half-brother to the dual seven-furlong winner Right Direction (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), his third dam Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}) is a half-sister to the top-class sprinter and producer Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and late stallion Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}).

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLD CUP SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS-G2, $1,500,000, Meydan, 3-30, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 3200mT, 3:19.00, gd.
1–CROSS COUNTER (GB), 121, g, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Waitress (SP-Fr), by Kingmambo
                2nd Dam: Do the Honours (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Persian Secret (Fr), by Persian Heights (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick; $900,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, G1SW-Aus, 9-6-2-0, $4,180,496. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ispolini (GB), 121, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Giants Play, by Giant's
Causeway. (1,200,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Godolphin;
B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. $300,000.
3–Call the Wind (GB), 127, g, 5, Frankel%20(GB)#tot">Frankel (GB)–In Clover (GB), by
Inchinor (GB). O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-Freddy Head.
$150,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 4.
Also Ran: Gold Mount (GB), Marinaresco (SAf), Platinum Warrior (Ire), Sharpalo (Fr), Red Galileo (GB), Prince of Arran (GB), Team Talk (GB).
Click for the Emirates Racing chart, the AM Wager PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Emirates Racing Video.

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.