Cross Counter successfully bridged the gap between Australia and the UAE with a brilliant victory for jockey William Buick over Isopolini – like the winner a 4YO owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby – in the US$1.5m 3200m affair.
Winner of the Melbourne Cup last November, Cross Counter defied the lengthy lay-off, showing great courage as the two stable mates drew clear of their eight rivals from 500m out. Ispolini surrendered the lead 250m from the finish, where Cross Counter forged ahead to gain victory by one and a quarter lengths in a time of 3min 19secs, the third-best in the 11-year history of the race.
Cross Counter, who gave both his trainer and jockey their first successes in the race, was taking his career record to six wins and two-second placing from nine races.
French-trained Call The Wind stayed on over the last 500m to be third, three lengths off the first two and four lengths ahead of Gold Mount, Hong Kong’s first runner in the race.
“I’m delighted with the result, it’s what tonight is all about and it’s good to get the first one out of the way. I just spoke to His Highness and we said we’d let the dust settle before come up with a plan but we could maybe go for the Gold Cup. But we’ll sit back and enjoy today before deciding where we go,” said his proud trainer after the race.
Freddy Head trainer of Call The Wind said, “He is still young, he hasn't raced a lot. He probably would have preferred a better pace. He is still learning. He certainly hasn't lost anything in defeat..”
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Race Conditions:
Distance: 3,200 metres (abt 2 miles), Surface: Turf, Track: left-handed, Qualification: Three-years-old and up
When & Where: 30th March 2019 at Meydan Racecourse, UAE
Credit: Curated from press releases received from Dubai Racing Club