Cross Counter

Last updated
Cross Counter
Owner Godolphin red cap.svg
Racing silks of Godolphin
Sire Teofilo
Grandsire Galileo
DamWaitress
Damsire Kingmambo
Sex Gelding
Foaled5 April 2015 [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Bay
Breeder Godolphin
OwnerGodolphin
Trainer Charlie Appleby
Record16: 6-2-3
Earnings£3,610,588
Major wins
Gordon Stakes (2018)
Melbourne Cup (2018)
Dubai Gold Cup (2019)
Awards
Australian Champion Stayer (2018/19)
Last updated on 6 November 2018

Cross Counter (foaled 5 April 2015) is a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2018 Melbourne Cup. After winning two minor races he was gelded before returning in the summer of 2018 to win two more races including the Gordon Stakes as well as finishing second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and fourth in the King George V Stakes. In autumn he was sent to Australia and on 6 November he became the first British-trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup. In 2019 he won the Dubai Gold Cup and ran third in the Goodwood Cup. He failed to win in 2020 but finished third in the Ascot Gold Cup and the Henry II Stakes.

Contents

Background

Cross Counter is a bay gelding with a large white star bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation. He was sent into training with Charlie Appleby in Newmarket, Suffolk.

He was from the seventh crop of foals sired by the Teofilo the undefeated European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2006. Teofilo's other European offspring have included Trading Leather, Pleascach and Parish Hall: he has also had great success in Australia where his major winners have included Happy Clapper, Humidor and Kermadec. [2] Cross Counter's dam Waitress showed little ability on the track, failing to win in four races. [3] As a descendant of the broodmare Rahaam she was closely related to Cassandra Go, Halfway to Heaven, Rhododendron and Magical. [4]

Racing career

2017: two-year-old season

Cross Counter made his racecourse debut on 9 December when he started at odds of 7/2 for a minor race over eight and a half furlong on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton Racecourse. Ridden by Adam Kirby he recovered from a slow start to take the lead a furlong out and pulled away to win by two and a quarter lengths. [5]

2018: three-year-old season

Six weeks after his first appearance, with Kirby again in the saddle Cross Counter returned to Wolverhampton for a race over nine and a half furlongs. Starting the 4/9 favourite he took the lead in the last quarter mile and steadily increased his advantage to win "easily" by eight lengths. [6] He wa then gelded and was off the track for four and a half months.

Cross Counter returned for a minor event at Sandown Park on 7 June in which he was ridden by William Buick and finished second of the fourteen runners behind Elwazir. Two weeks later he was assigned top weight of 132 pounds for the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. He made steady progress in the straight without looking likely to win and came home fourth behind the Mark Johnston Baghdad. Over the same course and distance in July, the gelding started 13/8 favourite against six opponents for a handicap race in which he was partnered by Kirby. After being restrained at the rear of the field he moved forward to take the lead approaching the final furlong and won by two lengths. [7]

At Goodwood Racecourse on 4 August Cross Counter was stepped up in class to contest the Group 3 Gordon Stakes, a race which often serves as a major trial for the St Leger over one and a half miles. The race attracted only four runners and Cross Counter was made the 7/4 second choice in the betting behind Dee Ex Bee, a colt who had finished second in the Epsom Derby. After taking the lead soon after the start he broke away from his rivals in the straight and came home four and a half lengths clear of Dee Ex Bee despite being eased down by Buick in the final strides. [8] The winning time of 2:31.39 was reported to be a new track record. [9] As a gelding, Cross Counter was ineligible to run in the St Leger and there was speculation that he would be sent to Australia to contest the Melbourne Cup. [10] Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said "he's improving all the time. He's a big raw horse and I think there is some more improvement to come. He's been gelded – he was a bit of a boy back in the day and Charlie thought it was the best thing to do". [11]

Eighteen days later at York Racecourse the gelding started favourite for the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes. He produced a sustained run in the last quarter mile but failed by a head to overhaul his stablemate Old Persian. After the race Appleby commented "The Melbourne Cup has always been the plan for Cross Counter and hopefully this will put an extra half-kilo on his back and get him into the race. I didn’t want to take him to Australia and run in a prep-race — not as a three-year-old. I want to run him off the plane". [12]

Melbourne Cup

On 14 September Cross Counter was one of 27 British horses to enter quarantine preparatory to being flown to Australia for the prestigious Spring Carnival meeting. [13] After arriving in Melbourne on 29 September and emerging from quarantine two weeks later the Godolphin contingent showed excellent form: Best Solution won the Caulfield Cup, while Benbatl won the Caulfield Stakes before running second to the great mare Winx in the Cox Plate.

In the Melbourne Cup over two miles at Flemington Racecourse on 6 November Cross Counter was assigned a weight of 51 kg (approximately 112 pounds or 8.0 stones) and was partnered by Kerrin McEvoy who had won the race previously on Brew and Almandin as well as having ridden several major winners for Godolphin in Europe. He started at odds of 8/1 in 24-runner field which included Best Solution, Cliffs of Moher, Yucatan (Herbert Power Stakes), Magic Circle (Chester Cup), Youngstar (Queensland Oaks), Marmelo (Prix Maurice de Nieuil), Muntahaa (Ebor Handicap) and Avilius (The Bart Cummings). The Cup had been won by horses from France, Ireland, Germany and Japan, but despite eight second-place finishes, no British-trained horse had ever won the world's most valuable and prestigious staying race. [14]

After racing towards the rear of the field for most of the way Cross Counter began to make progress on the final turn but still had at least fifteen horses in front of him entering the last 400 metres. Prince of Arran went to the front 200 metres out but was headed by Marmelo who looked the likely winner before Cross Counter came with a strong late run on the outside to win by a length. Prince of Arran was two lengths back in third to complete a 1-2-3 for British-trained horses. [15] Appleby said "You can’t realise the delight of winning this race. It is known around the world as a seriously great race and to think we can bring it home to England is incredible. We have been trying very hard, but finally we have cracked it... He is a wonderful young horse". [16] [17] [18]

The result of the race, following the success of Rekindling in 2017 led to questions about the weights assigned to Northern-hemisphere three-year-olds with Racing Victoria's senior handicapper Greg Carpenter saying "the way in which we integrate them into the handicap will be reviewed and evolve". [19]

In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Cross Counter was given a rating of 117, making him the 118th best horse in the world and the sixth-best horse over extended distances. [20]

2019: four-year-old season

Cross Counter made his first appearance of 2019 in the Dubai Gold Cup over 3200 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 30 March. Ridden by Buick he started the 7/4 favourite with the best fancied of his nine opponents being his stablemate Ispolini (Nad Al Sheba Trophy) and the Prix du Cadran winner Call The Wind. Cross Counter raced just behind the leaders before taking the lead 300 metres from the finish and won "comfortably" by a length and a quarter from Ispolini. [21] Appleby commented "It was a tough ask to go to Australia as a 3-year-old and win the Melbourne Cup. It's always in the back of your mind whether it took a bit out of him, and this was our first opportunity to run him since then. He's answered all the questions we needed to know". [22]

On his first start in Europe for almost ten months Cross Counter started the 4/1 third choice in the betting for the two and a half mile Ascot Gold Cup on 20 June. After being restrained towards the rear of the eleven runner field he stayed on well on the outside in the straight but was unable to get to the front and came home fourth behind Stradivarius, Dee Ex Bee and Master of Reality, beaten just under two lengths by the winner. He started 3/1 second favourite for the Goodwood Cup on 30 July but after briefly taking the lead a furlong out he was overtaken in the closing stages and finished third behind Stradivarius and Dee Ex Bee. On his final European start of the year the gelding was sent to Ireland and started 4/6 favourite for the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh. He raced in mid-division before making steady progress in the last quarter mile but never looked likely to win and finished fourth behind the three-year-old filly Search For A Song. [23]

On 5 November Cross Counter carried top weight of 57.5 kg as he attempted to repeat his 2018 victory in the Melbourne Cup. With Buick in the saddle he kept on well in the last 400 metres and although he came home eighth of the twenty-four runners he finished less than two lengths behind the winner Vow And Declare.

2020: five-year-old season

For his first run of 2020 Cross Counter was sent to Saudi Arabia for the Longines Turf Handicap over 3000 metres at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh on 26 February. Ridden by Doyle, he started the 11/8 favourite but came home fifth of the fourteen runners behind Call The Wind after fading in the last 300 metres. On his return to Europe the gelding ran for the second time in the Ascot Gold Cup in June and finished third behind Stradivarius and Nayef Road, beaten eighteen lengths by the winner. [24] On 5 July at Sandown Cross Counter started the 11/8 favourite for the Henry II Stakes, a race which had been rescheduled from its usual May date owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and finished third behind the four-year-olds Dashing Willoughby and Spanish Mission.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Cross Counter (IRE), bay gelding, 2015 [1]
Sire
Teofilo (IRE)
2004
Galileo
1998
Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea Miswaki
Allegretta
Speirbhean
1998
Danehill Danzig
Razyana
Saviour Majestic Light
Victorian Queen
Dam
Waitress (USA)
2008
Kingmambo
1990
Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Miesque Nureyev
Pasadoble
Do The Honours (IRE)
1998
Highest Honor Kenmare
High River
Persian Secret Persian Heights
Rahaam (Family: 3-d) [4]

Related Research Articles

Encke (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Encke was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September 2012 when he defeated the Triple Crown bid of Camelot. In spring of 2013 Encke was banned from racing after failing a drug test. He returned to racing in 2014 and was placed in three races including the Irish St. Leger. He sustained a fatal injury in training in October 2014.

Trip To Paris Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Trip To Paris is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing modest form in his first two seasons he emerged as a top-class stayer as a four-year-old in 2015 after being gelded, winning the Chester Cup in May before recording his biggest win in the Ascot Gold Cup. He failed to win again after his Gold Cup success but was placed in a number of major races including a second in the Caulfield Cup. He was retired in July 2017 having won six of his twenty-seven races and earning over £800,000 in prize money.

Hawkbill American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hawkbill is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. During his racing career he competed in England, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada and Dubai. In 2015 he was beaten on his first two appearances but then recorded three consecutive wins in minor races. As a three-year-old in 2016 he made rapid progress, taking his winning run to six with victories in the Newmarket Stakes, Tercentenary Stakes and Eclipse Stakes. As a four-year-old he won the Aston Park Stakes and Princess of Wales's Stakes and was placed in the Coronation Cup, Grosser Preis von Berlin and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He began his fourth season by winning the Dubai City of Gold and followed up by recording his most valuable success when he took the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Markab is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Originally trained in France, he did not race as a juvenile and won one minor race from six attempts as a three-year-old in 2006. He was then sold to race in England where he won three small handicap races in 2008 and the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes in the following year. After being transferred to the stable of Henry Candy he belatedly emerged as a top-class performer at the age of seven in 2010 when he won the Greenlands Stakes in Ireland before recording his biggest win in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup. He remained in training for two more years, winning the Leisure Stakes in 2012 at the age of nine.

Pethers Moon Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Pether's Moon is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in the 2015 Coronation Cup. After showing some promise as a juvenile in 2012 he became a successful handicapper in the following year and ended his season with a win in the Listed Floodlit Stakes. As a four-year-old in 2014 he became a Group race performer, winning the Glorious Stakes and the Cumberland Lodge Stakes in England and the Bosphorus Cup in Turkey. In 2015 he was beaten in his first two races but then recorded his biggest win in the Group One Coronation Cup. He did not race again and was retired to become a breeding stallion.

Colour Vision French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Colour Vision is a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in 2012 Ascot Gold Cup. He was bred in France, sired by an American stallion out of a German mare and was trained in Britain and the United Arab Emirates.

Ribchester (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ribchester is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2015 he finished second in the Gimcrack Stakes on his second racecourse appearance and then won the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes. In 2016 he was rated the best British-trained colt of his generation and was one of the top milers in Europe, winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France as well as being placed in the 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In 2017 he added further major victories in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Prix du Moulin

Barney Roy British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Barney Roy is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile in 2016 he emerged as a top-class performer in the following year. He won the Greenham Stakes and finished second in the 2000 Guineas before recording his biggest victory in the St James's Palace Stakes. He went on to finish second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in the International Stakes before being retired to stud at the end of the year. His spell at stud proved unsuccessful and he returned to racing in the 2019 season. As a gelding in 2020 he recorded victories in the Al Rashidiya, Jebel Hatta, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and Grosser Preis von Baden.

Masar (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Masar is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2018 Epsom Derby. He was highly tried as a two-year-old, finishing third in the Chesham Stakes and winning the Solario Stakes before contesting major races in France and the United States. After racing unsuccessfully in Dubai he returned to Europe in the spring of 2018 to win the Craven Stakes and then ran third when favourite for the 2000 Guineas. After winning the Derby in June he had injury problems and was off the course for over a year before returning as four-year-old in 2019. He failed to recover his form in two starts and was retired from racing.

Stradivarius (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Stradivarius is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old, he emerged as a top-class stayer in the following year, winning the Queen's Vase and Goodwood Cup as well as finishing a close third in the St Leger. As a four-year-old he won the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, a second Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup, securing a £1 million bonus for winning all four races, and ended the year by winning the British Champions Long Distance Cup. In 2019 he repeated his victories in the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup and Lonsdale Cup, and won a third Goodwood Cup, giving him a second £1 million bonus. With jockey Frankie Dettori on board, on 18 June 2020, Stradivarius won his third Ascot Gold Cup and on 28 July 2020, he won his record fourth Goodwood Cup.

Big Orange is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After failing to win a two-year-old he made good progress in 2014, winning three of his six races including the Chester Stakes and Noel Murless Stakes. He emerged a top class performer in the following year, winning the Princess of Wales's Stakes and the Goodwood Cup and took the same two races in 2016. In 2017 he won the Henry II Stakes and then recorded his biggest win in the Ascot Gold Cup.

Give Notice was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed no discernible promise as a juvenile in 1999 but over the next two seasons he made steady progress, winning five times in handicap races over extended distances. He emerged as a top-class stayer in 2002 when he won the Sagaro Stakes and the Prix du Cadran. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Goodwood Cup and third in the Cesarewitch

San Sebastian was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over extended distances. Originally trained in Ireland he showed modest ability in his early career but improved steadily and recorded his first big win as a four-year-old when he took the Ascot Stakes. He returned to Ascot a year later to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes and was transferred to England at the end of the year. As a six-year-old he recorded his most prestigious win when he took the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp Racecourse. He failed to win in 2001 and was then moved to France where he won over hurdles in Autumn. He shifted base for a final time when he was exported to New Zealand, where he won three steeplechases. Apart from his twelve victories the gelding was placed in several high-class races including the Prix Royal Oak, Goodwood Cup, Sagaro Stakes, Saval Beg Stakes and New Zealand Grand National. San Sebsatian died in his paddock in New Zealand at the age of 11 in December 2005.

Blue Point (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Blue Point, is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the best British-trained two-year-olds of 2016 when he won the Gimcrack Stakes and was placed in the Richmond Stakes, Middle Park Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year he developed into a high class sprint horse, taking the Pavilion Stakes and Bengough Stakes as well as running third in the Commonwealth Cup. As a four-year-old in 2018 he recorded his first Group 1 success in the King's Stand Stakes. In 2019 he won three races in Dubai including the Al Quoz Sprint before recording a double at Royal Ascot, taking the King's Stand Stakes for the second time and winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Pinatubo (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Pinatubo is a retired Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the top-rated European two-year-old of 2019 when he was unbeaten in six races including the Woodcote Stakes, Chesham Stakes, Vintage Stakes, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year he won the Prix Jean Prat and was placed in the 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Prix du Moulin.

Old Persian (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Old Persian, is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who has raced in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Canada and the United States. He showed promise as a two-year-old in 2017 when he won two minor races from four starts. In the following year he showed top-class form over middle distances, winning the Fairway Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes and fifth in the St Leger. He improved again as a four-year-old, winning the Dubai City of Gold, Dubai Sheema Classic and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He ran poorly in two races as a five-year-old and was retired from racing.

Mustashry is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He finished fourth on his only run as a juvenile and won two minor races in the following year. As a four-year-old in 2017 he improved to win two races including the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. After being gelded he returned in 2018 to win the Gala Stakes, Park Stakes and Joel Stakes. In 2019 he won the Lockinge Stakes and the Challenge Stakes.

Lord Glitters is a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained in France where he won four races before being sold, gelded, and sent to race in England as a four-year-old where he won the valuable Balmoral Handicap in October 2017. In 2018 he showed very good form over one mile, winning the Strensall Stakes and being placed in the Lincoln Handicap, Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes. As a six-year-old he finished third in the Dubai Turf before recording his biggest victory when he took the Queen Anne Stakes at the second attempt.

Lord North (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Lord North is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile in 2018 he won again on his three-year-old debut but ran poorly on his next start and was subsequently gelded. He returned to the track in the autumn of 2019 and recorded victories in the Cambridgeshire Handicap and the James Seymour Stakes. The gelding made further progress in 2020 when he won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Space Blues is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a two-year-old in 2018 he improved in the following year to win the Surrey Stakes and went on to be placed in the Jersey Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Prix Maurice de Gheest. He was even better as a four-year old in 2020, winning the Spring Trophy, Prix de la Porte Maillot, Lennox Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest.

References

  1. 1 2 Cross Counter pedigree – EquineLine.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. "Teofilo – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. "Waitress – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Brown Bess – Family 3-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  5. "32Red.com EBF Novice Stakes result". Racing Post. 9 December 2017.
  6. "32Red Casino Novice Stakes result". Racing Post. 22 January 2018.
  7. "Woodford Reserve Handicap result". Racing Post. 14 July 2018.
  8. "Gordon Stakes result". Racing Post. 4 August 2018.
  9. Stevens, James. "Cross Counter Defeats Dee Ex Bee in Gordon Stakes". The Blood-Horse .
  10. Wood, Greg (4 August 2018). "Gifted Master battles to brave Stewards' Cup success at Goodwood". The Guardian .
  11. "Cross Counter wins the Gordon Stakes for Godolphin". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au.
  12. Wilson Jr, Leslie (22 August 2018). "Doyle steals York thunder from Buick". Gulf News.
  13. Riddle, Geoffrey. "Large international contingent enters quarantine for Australia". Racing UK.
  14. "Melbourne Cup: British horses bid to finally win Australia's 'race that stops a nation'". BBC. 4 November 2018.
  15. "Melbourne Cup result". Racing Post. 6 November 2018.
  16. Bartley, Patrick (6 November 2018). "Cross Counter wins Melbourne Cup as Kerrin McEvoy triumphs again". The Guardian.
  17. "Melbourne Cup: 2018 field, form guide and sweep". ABC News. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  18. "Melbourne Cup 2018: Cross Counter takes out the Melbourne Cup". The Age. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  19. Cormick, Brendan (8 November 2018). "Challenge to keep Cross Counter youngsters in check". The Australian .
  20. "The 2018 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  21. "Dubai Gold Cup result". Racing Post. 30 March 2019.
  22. McFadden, Tom (30 March 2019). "Cross Counter Secures First Dubai Gold Cup for Appleby". The Blood-Horse .
  23. "Irish St. Leger result". Racing Post. 15 September 2019.
  24. "Ascot Gold Cup result". Racing Post. 18 June 2020.