Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted January 9, 2019 Journalists Share Posted January 9, 2019 Godolphin’s 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will return to the races in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Mar. 30, trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed via the Godolphin website on Wednesday. “Cross Counter has come back from Melbourne stronger and brighter than ever, and he has put on 25 kilos in body weight,” Appleby said. “He looks great. After discussing his program with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, we have pencilled in the Dubai Gold Cup as a starting point for 2019, and we will see where that takes us. It will be an opportunity for His Highness to see Cross Counter on the big night, and also for Godolphin fans in Dubai to give the horse the ‘home town’ welcome he deserves.” The 4-year-old gelding won the G3 Qatar Gordon S. last August and ran second in the G2 Great Voltieur S. at York later that month to stablemate Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before his successful Flemington raid. Appleby did note that a Melbourne Cup title defense was not out of the question. “A defence of his Melbourne Cup crown is an obvious long-range target but we know he will be getting a lot more weight this time,” he said. The aforementioned Old Persian will point to the G1 Sheema Classic on Mar. 30, with a nomination in the G2 City Of Gold as a prep, while GSW Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also possible for the Dubai Gold Cup. GSW Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) is eyeing a run in the G1 Jebel Hatta before a run in the G1 Dubai Turf, and Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) is being aimed at the G1 Al Quoz Sprint after a run in the Meydan Sprint. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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