Earlier, trainer Charlie Appleby has enjoyed a regal time of it in Australia with Francis of Assisi’s 10-length romp in last Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes the latest of a string of outstanding results from his brigade.
He’ll be hoping it’s a case of Qewy-too when the Geelong Cup winner lines-up in the Sandown Cup (Race 3) over 3200m.
Godolphin rep James Ferguson put a lot of the stable’s success in the staying events down under to their ability to work effectively on flatter terrain at Werribee.
Off a sound effort in the Melbourne Cup and against moderate opposition, Qewy has come up predictably short here and we’re bracing ourselves for a deluge of money in support of the apparent good thing of the day.
While the other feature event on the card, the Sandown Guineas (Race 6) over 1600m, also sees a Godolphin horse expected to take all the beating with Morton’s Fork hoping to go one better after narrowly missing out to Comin’ Through in a driving finish to the Carbine Club Stakes.
The race also represents something of an acid test for progressive filly Jennifer Lynn, who came from the tail of the field to swamp her rivals in the final stride at Flemington in the Lexus Hybrid Plate and has worked through the grades in typical Darren Weir-fashion this campaign.