Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby has put the final pre-travel touches on the four horses he will train for Melbourne spring features.
Qewy, Francis Of Assisi, Folkswood and Kidmenever all worked over six furlongs (1200m) at Newmarket on Wednesday, a day before their scheduled flight to Australia.
“Qewy, Francis Of Assisi, Folkswood and Kidmenever worked well on grass and I was very pleased with them all,” Appleby said.
“They look fit, well and ready to jump on the plane on Thursday afternoon (Friday AEST). The biggest challenge now is how they take the journey but they are leaving here in good order.”
Two of the horses, Qewy and Francis Of Assisi will be coming to Australia for the second time.
Qewy won the Group Three Geelong Cup and the Listed Sandown Cup, and ran a creditable fourth in between in the Melbourne Cup.
France Of Assisi won two Group Three races, the Bendigo Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
They are joined by Folkswood, who was beaten a neck in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan in March, and Kidmenever, a Listed runner-up at Sandown Park in July.
Appleby said Qewy was likely to run in the Geelong Cup again in preparation for the Melbourne Cup.
“Francis Of Assisi holds an entry in the Caulfield Cup and he will also be entered in the (Group Two) Herbert Power Stakes (Oct 14) along with Kidmenever,” he said.
“We will look at the Group One Caulfield Stakes for Folkswood, although he could go for the Listed Cranbourne Cup instead.”
He said Kidmenever needed to win a race to boost his chances of a Melbourne Cup 2017 start.
