Godolphin Owned Cross Counter Wins Prestigious Melbourne Cup
Newmarket-based Charlie Appleby became the first English trainer to win the Melbourne Cup race after 25 years and ended the 20 year Melbourne Cup drought for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team.
"I know how much this race means to him - he's been trying to win if for a while and so I am so happy this horse has been able to do it for him," a delighted Appleby said of his boss.
Marmelo and A Prince of Arran two lengths behind came second and third respectively in the race.
The race was marred when the Aidan O'Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher broke down at the winning post the first time around, breaking its right shoulder. The horse was euthanized after the race at Flemington.
The Cliffsofmoher was an Irish horse ridden by English jockey Ryan Moore.
Another Aidan O'Brien trained early favourite Yucatan finished 11th horse. Japan-based Chestnut Coat, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was 14th.
With torrential rain, no one was surprised to see facinators sailing down Flemington. But that didn’t mean the celebs didn’t put their best foot forward.
Melbourne Cup ambassador Megan Gale wore a Paolo Sebastian gown with a custom headpiece by Stephanie Spencer Millinery and Kate Waterhouse who is also a Melbourne Cup ambassador was in a Miu Miu dress with a Nerida Winter bow.
Full Runner list with Trainer & Jockey 2018:
1st Cross Counter (C. Appleby, K. McEvoy), 2nd Marmelo (H. Morrison, H. Bowman), 3rd A Prince Of Arran (C. Fellowes, M. Walker), 4th Finche (C. Waller, Z. Purton), 5th Rostropovich (A. O'Brien, W. Lordan), 6th Youngstar (C. Waller, C. Williams), 7th Sir Charles Road (L. Scott, D. Dunn), 8th Best Solution (S. Suroor, P. Cosgrave), 9th Muntahaa (J. Gosden, J. Crowley), 10th Ventura Storm (D. Dabernig, M. Zahra), 11th Yucatan (A. O'Brien, J. McDonald), 12th Nakeeta (I. Jardine, R. Bayliss), 13th Zacada (M. Forsman, D. Lane), 14th Chestnut Coat (Y. Yahagi, Y. Kawada), 15th Vengeur Masque (M. Moroney, P. Moloney), 16th Magic Circle (I. Williams,C. Brown),17th Who Shot Thebarman (C. Waller,B. Melham),18th Sound Check (M. Moroney,J. Childs),19th Runaway (G. Bott, S. Baster), 20th Ace High (D. Payne, T. Angland), 21th Auvray (R. Freedman, T. Berry), 22th Avilius (J. Cummings, G. Schofield), 23th Red Cardinal (D. Weir, D. Oliver ),
FTF - The Cliffsofmoher (A. O'Brien, R. Moore)
Race Info:
Distance: 3,200 metres (2.0 miles), Surface: Turf, Track: Left-handed, Qualification: Three-year-olds and up, Weight: Handicap, Purse: A$7,300,000 (2018)
Location: Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia
Date & Time: 6 November 2018 at 3pm (Melbourne)
