Goodwood record-breaker Cross Counter will head to Melbourne Cup
Charlie Appleby will aim Saturday's Gordon Stakes winner Cross Counter at the Melbourne Cup after his track-record-breaking exploits at Glorious Goodwood.
Appleby said: "We respected Dee Ex Bee and would have been happy with second, but we were confident we could make a race of it and it was great to see him win like that.
"The plan was always to use the race as a platform for a trip to Australia, and that should get him straight into the Melbourne Cup. If it doesn't then he'll still go down there and hopefully get into the race via one of the trials."
Cross Counter stretches away from his three rivals in the Gordon Stakes
Cross Counter is a gelding and thus ineligible for the St Leger, but Appleby has few regrets on that score.
He said: "He had a setback and we decided do two operations at the same time in the new year. He was a bit of a boy, and he was always one that was going to be going a mile and a half plus and hopefully be campaigned internationally, so it seemed the right thing to do.
"Whatever happens in Australia he'll come back hopefully, and he has the right profile for the Carnival in Dubai as well."
Appleby said: "It's never happened before and the person responsible held their hands up to it. I'm very confident they won't do it again.
"He'll run in another valuable handicap in two weeks time and is pencilled in for Australia after that."
"She's been so consistent, from her win in the Marcel Boussac, then the Guineas fourth and Oaks second, then there was Royal Ascot, so it was very pleasing to see her get her head in front in another Group 1 as a three-year-old.
"She's going to have a little break now and then return in the Prix de l'Opera before hopefully going on to the Breeders' Cup."
Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com
Published on 5 August 2018inNews
Last updated 17:15, 5 August 2018
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup