Scoring Up

Veteran horseman Ray Cross turned back the clock at Maryborough on Wednesday, producing a training double at the remarkable age of 87.

The ex‑Queenslander struck with trotters Romantic Nina and Its Classic Gold, adding another chapter to a career that has spanned decades. Cross was long regarded as a top pacer trainer in Queensland, particularly through the 1980s and 1990s, preparing standout open‑class performers such as Keen Edge (1:54.9, 27 wins, $135,254) and The Emcee NZ (1:58.1, 58 wins, $342,582).

With Wednesday’s double, Cross has now trained 579 winners and more than $2.1 million in prizemoney — an extraordinary body of work from one of the sport’s true stalwarts.