Winter Stakes to Rugged Cross

Since relocating to Australia to join Chris Waller's team, Cape Cross gelding Rugged Cross has been placed at Stakes level on several occasions and on July 18, he recorded a well-deserved first Black type when taking the Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Settled in fifth position after being hunted from the barriers by jockey Brenton Avdulla, Rugged Cross stayed towards the inside as the field fanned around the final turn. Charging late between the leading duo, Rugged Cross scored by a short half-head margin to become the 97th Stakes winner for his sire.

Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, Rugged Cross is the second Stakes winner out of the Soviet Star mare Lunda, a half-sister to G1-winning Champions Luso and Warrsan, from the family of Exceed And Excel’s G3 winner Nideeb.

Cape Cross has been enjoying a superb year, with Golden Horn becoming his 11th individual G1 winner when landing the Derby. He went on to better his older rivals in the Eclipse earlier this month and is currently favourite for the King George. He is one of 17 individual Stakes performers this year for his sire.