Dubai
Godolphin’s Cross Counter can continue what has been a vintage year for the stable by winning the Group 3 Great Voltigeur Stakes, the showpiece race on the opening day of York’s four-day Ebor Festival on Wednesday.
The three-year-old son of Teofilo announced himself as a serious stayer when winning the Group 2 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month in track record time.
He is likely to be sent off as the red-hot favourite in the Voltigeur, a 2,400-metre contest that Godolphin have won four times in the past with Rewilding (2010), Rule Of Law (204), Sea Wave (1998) and Slowaway (1997).
Trained by in-form handler Charlie Appleby, Cross Counter faces eight rivals including stable companion Old Persian and French Group 1 scorer, Kew Gardens. William Buick continues his association with the Godolphin colt who his trainer says is on an ‘upward curve.’
“Cross Counter must have a great chance of winning the Voltigeur, though we respect plenty of others in a strong field,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.
“He showed his potential last start, and I feel he remains on an upward curve.”
Another good performance at York’s historic track can add credence to his chances of becoming a genuine contender for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, on November 6, a contest that Godolphin have long sought to win.
He burst into the Cup picture when easily defeating Epsom Derby second Dee Ex Bee at Goodwood prompting Appleby to say at that time: “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.”
Just last week Godolphin reached a major milestone when it claimed its 5,000th winner worldwide. The memorable win was reached by Expecting To Fly, who scored at Teste de Buch, France, on Thursday, August 16.
Since its inception in 1992, Godolphin has currently won races in 14 countries on four continents.
Godolphin’s first winner came at Nad Al Sheba racecourse in Dubai,on December 24, 1992 with a horse called Cutwater, who was trained by Hilal Ebrahim and ridden by jockey Dennis Batteate, Earlier this year the stable won a first English Derby (G1) in its own Royal Blub colours when Masar, ridden by William Buick and trained by Appleby, romped to victory at Epsom Racecourse.
Latest odds
Great Voltigeur Stakes (G1)
At York, UK
7/4 Cross Counter, 9/4 Kew Gardens, 5/1 Wells Farhh Go, 7/1 The Pentagon, 14/1 Old Persian, Sevenna Star, 20/1 M C Muldoon, 25/1 Nelson, 40/1 Zabriskie.
