By Tom Frary
What looked a trappy four-runner renewal of Goodwood's G3 Qatar Gordon S. beforehand turned out to be anything but in practice as Godolphin's Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) bossed the contest to put the G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) firmly in his place. This race has long served as a trial for the G1 St Leger, but with the winner being unable to run in that Classic due to the fact that he is a gelding it shed more light on the frailties of those going to Doncaster. Coming off a success in Ascot's Woodford Reserve H. July 14, the 7-4 second favourite was allowed to stride to the front soon after the start by William Buick. Always comfortable there, he readily drew clear of the 6-4 market-leader Dee Ex Bee from before the furlong pole and hit the line in course record time with 4 1/2 lengths to spare. “That was a lovely performance from him and he's not the finished article yet,” his rider said. “He stays in training and it will have opened a lot of doors for him now. He's very talented and is only going to improve. We went an even gallop and it was not a falsely-run race by any means and he quickened from the front and was relentless to the line.”
Unleashed at Wolverhampton Dec. 9, Cross Counter got off the mark despite exhibiting greenness and showed the benefit of that experience when following up by eight lengths at the same venue Jan. 22. Gelded after, he reappeared to be second to the subsequent impressive Ascot handicap winner Elwazir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in a 10-furlong Sandown novice contest June 7 before running fourth in the King George V S. over this trip at the Royal meeting a fortnight later. Stepping up again to win the Woodford Reserve, he exposed Dee Ex Bee's increasing unwillingness to stretch out on this summer ground with a ruthless display. Alex Merriam, assistant to Charlie Appleby, commented, “He's a big raw horse and I think there is some more improvement to come. He's been gelded–he was a bit of a boy back in the day and Charlie thought it was the best thing to do. He's seen out this trip really well, and liked the ground as he is by Teofilo. Speaking just now to Charlie, a trip to Australia might be in his sights.”
The maiden dam Waitress (Kingmambo) hails from the family of Thursday's G2 Richmond S. winner Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never), as she too descends from Rahaam (Secreto). The second dam Do the Honours (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), who captured the G3 Prix de Meautry, was a half-sister to Seba (GB) (Alzao) who took the Listed Chesham S. and finished third in the GI Mother Goose S. Their respective dam Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}) was one of several black-type winners out of Rahaam, whose descendants include Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), Halfway to Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Waitress's 2-year-old filly Bali Beach (GB) (Farhh {GB}) was bought for just 3,500gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Alvaro Soto, while she also has a yearling filly by Helmet (Aus).
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR GORDON S.-G3, £150,000, Goodwood, 8-4, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:31.39, g/f.
1–CROSS COUNTER (GB), 127, g, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Waitress (SP-Fr), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Do The Honours (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr)
3rd Dam: Persian Secret (Fr), by Persian Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $169,518. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dee Ex Bee (GB), 127, c, 3, Farhh (GB)–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £32,250.
3–Bombyx (GB), 127, c, 3, Sir Percy (GB)–Bombazine (Ire), by Generous (Ire). (60,000gns RNA Ylg '16 TATOCT). O/B-Mr & Mrs A E Pakenham (GB); T-James Fanshawe. £16,140.
Margins: 4HF, 8, 25. Odds: 1.75, 1.50, 8.00.
Also Ran: Sun Maiden (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
