The first European spring carnival contenders have arrived in Melbourne with three Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin horses now in quarantine at Werribee.
Jungle Cat, Folkswood and Blair House arrived around 5am on Saturday ahead of their assignments this month.
Jungle Cat’s initial target is the Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes on September 22 the same day Folkswood will contest the Group Three Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield.
Blair House is set to run in the Group One Underwood Stakes, also at Caulfield, on September 30.
“We think all three horses will be suited to the races we have chosen for them,” Appleby said.
“Our team are enjoying a very successful season in Europe, and we are hoping we can maintain the momentum on our visit this year to Australia,.”
Jungle Cat has not run since winning the Group One Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night while Folkswood, who won last year’s Cranbourne Cup and finished third to Winx in the Cox Plate, and Blair House, who beat Benbatl in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan, have also not raced since March .
Appleby’s travelling foreman, Chris Connett, said the three had handled the journey well.
“All three horses arrived in good order and are now are settling in at Werribee,” he said.
“They will have a couple of easy days here before stepping up their preparations for their initial targets at Caulfield later this month.
“It’s good to be back in Melbourne and we’re all looking forward to their debuts and the rest of the carnival.”
