Chris Connett is looking forward to English visitor Folkswood tackling Winx
Godolphin travelling foreman Chris Connett is looking forward to English visitor Folkswood tackling Winx in the Cox Plate.
Not that Connett thinks the Charlie Appleby-trained Folkswood can topple Winx at Moonee Valley on Saturday but he senses the theatre as the champion mare attempts a record-equalling third successive Cox Plate win.
“She’s a wonderful mare and it’s a great occasion to be running up against her,” Connett said.
“It will take a big effort to get anywhere near her but you have to be in the race to win it and we’re going to take our chance.
“There would be no disgrace running second to her but it’s a horse race and anything can happen.
“We’ll give it our best shot and if we come second, we come second, but we’re out to run a big race.”
Folkswood enters Saturday’s race off a last-start Cranbourne Cup win and Connett is hoping a tactical edge with the engagement of Kerrin McEvoy means the gelding will be competitive.
He said McEvoy, having ridden for Godolphin in Europe previously, has a good understanding of how the European horses like to be ridden.
“Particularly the stayers which need rousting up from a fair way out,” Connett said.
“He had a nice feel on Folkswood at Cranbourne and was happy to get back on him which is always a positive sign.”
Folkswood worked strongly at Werribee on Wednesday and Connett said the gelding was ready.
He said the Moonee Valley circuit would not hold any concerns and he did not expect the large crowd on course to watch Winx continue her winning streak to be a problem.
“He’s a pretty chilled out horse,” Connett said.
“He took it all well going to Cranbourne and it was nice to get him down there and stand in the stalls like you do here compared to back home.
“It will be a big day and it will be great to be there.”
Godolphin has decided not to run Qewy in Saturday’s Moonee Valley Cup and instead he will go to the Bendigo Cup next Wednesday, a race Appleby won last year with Francis Of Assisi who has been injured and will not run in Australia this spring.
