Horse racing news - Cross Counter claims historic British triumph in Australia’s Melbourne Cup

In the 158th running of Australia’s ‘race that stops a nation’, trainer Charlie Appleby saw his charge, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, lead home a 1-2-3 for British-trained runners on a very wet track at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria.

Marmelo was second with A Prince Of Arran, winner of Saturday’s Lexus Stakes at the same course, in third.

Victory not only handed Great Britain a first victory in the Lexus Melbourne Cup but also earned Goldolphin a much-coveted and sought-after success in the famous race.

Earlier in the day the track had been downgraded from good to heavy as heavy rain made life extremely difficult for the jockeys and horses in the lead-up races. However, in typical Melbourne fashion, the sun came out and the track condition improved just before the race.
Even so, it was still a damp track and the 1990 race record of 3 minutes and 16 seconds was never going to be under threat.

Appleby’s lightly weighted three-year-old Cross Counter was given a great patient ride by Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy, however it was Runway who set the early pace. McEvoy managed to avoid serious trouble at the rear of the field as The Cliffsofmoher, ridden by Ryan Moore, was injured, before the Australian brought Cross Counter from near last and switched wide to launch his challenge in the straight to blitz the field in the closing stages.

In the final 300 metres Cross Counter first passed the Charlie Fellowes-trained A Prince Of Arran, before edging out the fast-finishing Hughie Morrison’s Marmelo to win by a length. Finche in fourth was the best of the Australian challengers, with O’Brien’s Rostropovich fifth. Race favourite Yucatan , also trained by O’Brien, came in a disappointing 11th.

For winning Newmarket-based trainer Appleby it was an incredible way to what has been a dream season. When he started training five years ago he named The Derby and Melbourne Cup as the two races he most wanted to win. And he has achieved lifted both those most prized of trophies and now won 12 races at the highest level.

Sheikh Mohammed has been trying to win the Melbourne Cup for 30 years. Until now it had eluded him, but Appleby delivered with just his third starter in the race. The victory is also the second Melbourne Cup in just three years for McEvoy, who claimed the famous race riding Almandin in 2016, as well as with Brew in 2000

Speaking afterwards, Appleby said: “This is everybody’s dream. This year has been so incredible, winning a Derby and now this. I don’t want it to end”.

He said he had spoken to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, who was “over the moon” with the result.

“It’s a challenge that’s been a long road. It’s a very special day and one I will never forget”.