Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby reports Cross Counter back on track for the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington after making a full recovery from a minor setback.

The Newmarket handler confirmed that the son of Teofilo, as short as 9-1 to lift the prestigious Group One prize on November 6, has returned to routine work after spending a short spell on the sidelines with a leg injury.

Having run out an emphatic winner of the Gordon Stakes on his penultimate start, the three-year-old found only stablemate Old Persian too strong on his most recent start in the Great Voltigeur at York in August.

Appleby said: “Cross Counter is back cantering away and he is back on track for the Melbourne Cup. He is due to do a piece of work on Saturday.

“He knocked himself and gave himself a cut so he had to have a couple of stitches but they have knitted together well.

“He has been back in exercise since Saturday and we are pleased with him. He missed those few days there but it probably didn’t do him any harm.”