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
Saudi Arabia need extra-time to halt Palestine's dream run at Arab Cup, edge into semi-finals
DOHA: Saudi Arabia ended Palestine’s impressive Arab Cup run with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory on Thursday, securing their place in the semi-finals after a tense quarter-final in Al Rayyan.
Herve Renard’s side dominated long spells of the first half, probing patiently against a disciplined Palestinian defence that had kept two clean sheets in the group stage.
The Green Falcons came closest late in the opening period when a deep cross opened up space for Feras Al-Buraikan, only for Hamed Hamdan to produce a crucial last-ditch clearance.
Saudi Arabia eventually broke through early in the second half via their talisman Salem Al-Dawsari, whose sharp first touch drew a foul from Mohammed Saleh inside the area.
Al-Buraikan converted the ensuing penalty with confidence to give the Saudis a deserved lead.
But Palestine responded immediately.
Oday Dabbagh controlled a cross from Hassan Altambakti with a superb first touch before finishing clinically to level the match and reignite hopes of a historic semi-final berth.
Saudi Arabia thought they had a chance to retake the lead late on when they were awarded another penalty, but VAR overturned the decision. With the teams locked at 1-1, the match went to extra time.
Just as a shootout loomed, Mohamed Kanno delivered the decisive moment, rising to head home a pinpoint cross from Al-Dawsari and send the Green Falcons into the final four, while bringing an admirable Palestinian campaign to an end.
