Cross Counter and Godolphin out to create Melbourne magic in Dubai Gold Cup

Cross Counter memorably won the Melbourne Cup at Flemington last year. (AFP)
  • Melbourne Cup winner out to put on a display of speed at Meydan.
  • Charlie Appleby hopeful of yet more glory for four-year-old.

LONDON: Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter wants to show the Dubai crowd what a brilliant horse he is 鈥� that is the message from Charlie Appleby. 

The Godolphin trainer was speaking ahead of the four-year-old鈥檚 bid to win the Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night at Meydan. He is up against nine others in the 3,200m race and Appleby cannot wait to see the Dubai-based stable鈥檚 first Melbourne Cup winner put on a display on his home ground. 

鈥淩unning Cross Counter on Saturday will be an opportunity for His Highness (Sheikh Mohammed) to see the horse on the biggest race day in Dubai, and also for Godolphin fans here to give the horse a welcome home,鈥� Appleby said. 鈥淚t was a very exciting day  in Australia and the Melbourne Cup is a race Godolphin had been competing in for over 20 years, so it was a special day.鈥�

Appleby has been pleased with Cross Counter鈥檚 preparation for tomorrow鈥檚 attempt at Gold Cup glory, and has high hopes for the young stayer.

鈥淗e is a class animal and this is his first start of 2019, but he is an exciting horse for this year,鈥� Appleby said. 鈥淗e is taking on classy stayers this weekend but he is a horse himself who has done really well from three to four and he brings some very strong three-year-old form to the table.鈥�

The excitement surrounding the four-year-old is easy to understand. He has won five of his eight races so far, winning in a track record at Goodwood last summer before his magical run in Melbourne. 

鈥淎fter he won at Ascot we thought he might be a horse for Australia,鈥� Appleby said. 

鈥淥nce he stepped up and did what he did at Goodwood and broke the track record that day we were pretty confident we were heading down the right rack with the right horse.

鈥淲atching the Melbourne Cup it maybe did look as we had a lot to find in the race, but having Kerrin (McEvoy) in the saddle is a huge bonus.鈥�