European stayer Qewy has been retired
A three-time winner on Australian soil, European stayer Qewy has been retired.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby made the call after the eight-year-old finished sixth behind Vengeur Masque in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Qewy won the Geelong and Sandown Cups in 2016 and finished fourth in the Melbourne Cup behind Almandin before returning to Melbourne this spring to win the Bendigo Cup.
“We’re delighted with what he’s been able to achieve,” Appleby said.
“He’s done a great job and deserves a healthy retirement.”
Qewy was one of four horses Appleby brought to Melbourne for the spring and was in line for a shot at another Melbourne Cup.
But his record-winning performance in the Bendigo Cup took its toll and the decision was made to bypass the Cup.
Appleby said that was borne out in Qewy’s performance on Saturday.
“He was qualified (for the Cup) and was always going to be a runner in respect to weights,” Appleby said.
“What he did in the Bendigo Cup was great but it took a bit more out of him than one would have liked if you were going to be competitive in a Melbourne Cup, so that’s why we didn’t run.
“Breaking track records is great but when you’ve got to back up in a certain amount of time, it tells.”
After Kidmenever runs at Sandown next week, the Godolphin team, which includes Francis Of Assisi and Folkswood, will head home.
Francis Of Assisi, last year’s Queen Elizabeth winner, didn’t race after fracturing his pelvis in trackwork while Folkswood had three starts, winning the Cranbourne Cup, finishing third to Winx in the Cox Plate and then fifth behind Tosen Stardom in the Emirates Stakes on Saturday.
Appleby says he will be back again next year for the carnival.
“Our team was smaller this year as we had another couple on the radar but they didn’t quite make it,” he said.
“We’ve still got to try and get a Melbourne Cup.
“It’s hard but very high on the list.”
