LONDON: Charlie Appleby admitted he was able to tick off one of his bucket list items having trained Cross Counter to Melbourne Cup glory.
The English stayer, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, gave Dubai-based Godolphin, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, their first victory in the “Race that stops a nation.”
That left Appleby overjoyed, having helped “the Boys in Blue” break their Melbourne Cup duck.
“When I was lucky enough to get the job, I said there were two things I wanted to do — win the Derby and the Melbourne Cup,” the Godolphin trainer said.
“I’d like to say I was going to repeat it, but it’s going to be a pretty tall order.
“This is a race we have been trying to win for years and I’m just fortunate to turn up with the right horse.
“This is huge for everybody. It’s a dream. (This has been on) my bucket list for a long time.”
It was only Cross Counter’s — a four-year-old bay gelding — eighth start, but he had missed a top-two finish only once.
Marmelo was second and A Prince of Arran two lengths behind in third.
The winner stormed down from the outside in the final several hundred meters for a length victory. Cross Counter was third-last on the first turn.
McEvoy, who won the Melbourne Cup for the third time, said: “What a field to do it in. Charlie and myself used to travel to Doncaster and Chester and all of the tracks up north in England, back when I was over there riding, and all of those miles meant this, winning the Melbourne Cup.” AN
Charlie Appleby says Godolphin victory at Melbourne Cup was a dream come true
Charlie Appleby says Godolphin victory at Melbourne Cup was a dream come true
Patrick Habirora headlines PFL Brussels at Ing Arena in May
- PFL returns on May 23 with ‘The Belgian Bomber’ facing MMA legend Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson
NEW YORK: The Professional Fighters League returns to the ING Arena on Saturday, May 23, for PFL Brussels, with Belgium’s No. 10-ranked welterweight Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora (8-0) facing former UFC champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (30-12).
Habirora has seven victories coming by way of KO or TKO. He silenced doubters last December at PFL Lyon against his toughest test to date, Kevin Jousset.
A thunderous first-round knockout followed by relentless ground-and-pound sent the Lyon crowd into a frenzy and left many wondering how far he can go in MMA.
A former WEC and UFC champion, “Smooth” is a 20-year veteran and remains one of the most accomplished athletes of his era. Henderson has beaten Nate Diaz, Frankie Edgar (twice), and Jorge Masvidal.
Recently sharpening his tools across grappling, karate, wrestling and boxing, Henderson now returns to MMA determined to prove his championship pedigree.
Upcoming PFL Schedule:
- Friday, March 20: PFL Madrid, Palacio Vistalegre, Madrid, Spain.
- Saturday, March 28: PFL Pittsburgh, UPMC Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Saturday, April 11: PFL Chicago, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois.
- Thursday, April 16: PFL Belfast, SSE Arena Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Saturday, May 2: PFL Sioux Falls, Sanford Pentagon: Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- Saturday, May 23: PFL Brussels, ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium.
