Cross Counter returned for a minor event at Sandown Park on 7 June in which he was ridden by William Buick and finished second of the fourteen runners behind Elwazir.
[7] At Goodwood Racecourse on 4 August Cross Counter was stepped up in class to contest the Group 3 Gordon Stakes, a race which often serves as a major trial for the St Leger over one and a half miles.
After taking the lead soon after the start he broke away from his rivals in the straight and came home four and a half lengths clear of Dee Ex Bee despite being eased down by Buick in the final strides.
In the Melbourne Cup over two miles at Flemington Racecourse on 6 November Cross Counter was assigned a weight of 51 kg (approximately 112 pounds or 8.0 stones) and was partnered by Kerrin McEvoy who had won the race previously on Brew and Almandin as well as having ridden several major winners for Godolphin in Europe.
He started at odds of 8/1 in 24-runner field which included Best Solution, Cliffs of Moher, Yucatan (Herbert Power Stakes), Magic Circle (Chester Cup), Youngstar (Queensland Oaks), Marmelo (Prix Maurice de Nieuil), Muntahaa (Ebor Handicap) and Avilius (The Bart Cummings).
[14] After racing towards the rear of the field for most of the way Cross Counter began to make progress on the final turn but still had at least fifteen horses in front of him entering the last 400 metres.
Prince of Arran went to the front 200 metres out but was headed by Marmelo who looked the likely winner before Cross Counter came with a strong late run on the outside to win by a length.
Ridden by Buick he started the 7/4 favourite with the best fancied of his nine opponents being his stablemate Ispolini (Nad Al Sheba Trophy) and the Prix du Cadran winner Call The Wind.
After being restrained towards the rear of the eleven runner field he stayed on well on the outside in the straight but was unable to get to the front and came home fourth behind Stradivarius, Dee Ex Bee and Master of Reality, beaten just under two lengths by the winner.
He started 3/1 second favourite for the Goodwood Cup on 30 July but after briefly taking the lead a furlong out he was overtaken in the closing stages and finished third behind Stradivarius and Dee Ex Bee.
He raced in mid-division before making steady progress in the last quarter mile but never looked likely to win and finished fourth behind the three-year-old filly Search For A Song.
On his return to Europe the gelding ran for the second time in the Ascot Gold Cup in June and finished third behind Stradivarius and Nayef Road, beaten eighteen lengths by the winner.
[24] On 5 July at Sandown Cross Counter started the 11/8 favourite for the Henry II Stakes, a race which had been rescheduled from its usual May date owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and finished third behind the four-year-olds Dashing Willoughby and Spanish Mission.