Cross Counter ‑ Around The World In 283 Days

Some of the greatest to ever grace the turf (or dirt) have never left their own country; Winx, Frankel and Justify are just a few that spring to mind. Conversely, Highland Reel was a globetrotter of the highest order winning races in England, Ireland, Japan and the USA as well as racing in France, Australia and Dubai and we can’t help but love him for it.

Cross Counter boasts a CV that has amassed over £3million in prize money (put in to context, Frankel won just under £3million) having won Group races on three different continents in the last twelve months, and did we mention he’s only just turned four years old? A baby on the globe-trotting scale.

His progression has been exponential to say the least. A little over twelve months ago he was picking up two wins at Wolverhampton on the all-weather surface before being gelded after proving to be a little tricky at the stalls. His connections could only have dreamt of the success it would yield later down the line.

After running a fair race at Royal Ascot in June 2018, Cross Counter showed the class that had always been visible when heading into the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival. Entered for the 1m 4f Gordon Stakes on Day Five, Cross Counter jumped from the stalls well and took up the early running. Refusing to let any of the field past, he accelerated clear on the turn for home to take the race by four-and-a-half lengths, smashing the course record for this distance in the process.

Melbourne Cup ambitions were already being muted by connections, but next, to York.

The flatter track and fast surface at York meant that the advantage sat with stablemate Old Persian in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and he made that advantage count, but only by a head with Cross Counter staying on stoutly late on, confirming the next race was to be the one everybody wants to win– The Melbourne Cup.

24 runners. Two miles. Group 1. The Melbourne Cup is unrivalled, even we have to admit. So much so that even after Cross Counter’s UK endeavours, he only just made the cut at the bottom of the weights and oh did he make that light weight count. Turning for home it looked unlikely to say the least with only a handful of the 24-strong field behind him. However, Kerrin McEvoy gave him time to find his feet and a sweeping move around the outside of the entire field saw Cross Counter gamely take Australia’s most coveted race. The 10,553 mile flight just about paid itself off!

A well-deserved autumn break was taken, and on the journey back it was decided to take a stop off at none other than the Dubai World Cup meeting to put Cross Counter’s new-found staying potential to the test again. He of course passed with flying colours and perhaps most importantly, by winning the Dubai Gold Cup, qualified to take part in the Stayers’ Million here in the UK – of which the Goodwood Cup is a part of.

When asked on the possibilities of taking part in the Stayers’ Million and a mouth-watering clash with Stradivarius, trainer Charlie Appleby said ‘Of course, it’s a great initiative. Cross Counter could be the one to mix it with Stradivarius this year…’

This of course means a potential return trip to Goodwood in 2019, specifically in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup that takes place on Tuesday 30 July which has the potential to be an eye-watering race-of-the-ages.

One thing is for certain, Stayers’ Million bid or not, Cross Counter has well and truly announced himself on the global racing scene.

For tickets to see Cross Counter’s potential engagement in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup on Tuesday 30 July, click the button below.

Qatar Goodwood Festival