Charlie Appleby‘s rise up the world training ranks has continued with Cross Counter winning the Melbourne Cup.
He is one of two Godolphin trainers working for Sheikh Mohammed at Newmarket in England, the other being Saeed bin Suroor.
Appleby was appointed a Godolphin trainer in July 2013 after 15 years working for Sheikh Mohammed in a range of roles including travelling stable head and assistant trainer.
Cross Counter’s win on Tuesday was Appleby’s 21st at Group One level and his 12th for 2018.
He has three in Australia, Polarisation in the 2017 Sydney Cup, Jungle Cat in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in September and Tuesday’s Cup with Cross Counter.
“I have learned a lot about travelling horses after two years bringing them here,” Appleby said.
“Getting the horses here and getting them to race day, you are already winning.”
Bin Suroor has also had two Group One winners in Melbourne this spring with Benbatl in the Caulfield Stakes and Best Solution in the Caulfield Cup.
Best Solution, who carried top weight of 57.5kg in the Melbourne Cup compared to Cross Counter’s 51kg, finished eighth.
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