Last year’s Geelong Cup – Sandown Cup double winning English raider Qewy looks on track for a return trip to Australia this spring for a second shot at the Melbourne Cup in 2017.
Last year’s fourth placegetter Qewy is set for another raid on the 2017 Melbourne Cup field this spring. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Godolphin-raced son of Street Cry is prepared at Newmarket by Charlie Appleby and enjoyed a successful spring bid down under last season.
In his Victorian debut the galloper defeated Grey Lion (2nd) and Oceanographer (3rd) in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) earning him a spot in the Melbourne Cup field.
Qewy lined-up in the iconic $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Flemington and was far from disgraced running fourth behind Almandin as a $26 outsider in betting.
He rounded out his spring campaign with a second Melbourne win, saluting as the odds-on favourite in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m).
Appleby’s assistant trainer James Ferguson this week told The Daily Telegraph another Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival was calling the rising eight-year-old.
“They love him there and he runs well in Australia,” Ferguson said.
“I’m sure we’ll take him back there after running so well in the Melbourne Cup last year.”
In his first start since the Sandown Cup last November, Qewy caught the eye at Royal Ascot over the weekend running a close first-up fourth in the Queen Alexandra Stakes (4370m).
The dour stayer is likely to be set for another hopeful start in the Melbourne Cup field, nominations for the November 7 showdown closing on Tuesday August 29.
The latest all-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by Red Cardinal ($15) prepared by Andreas Wohler, the German trainer having taken out the world’s richest handicap in 2014 with Protectionist.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned Red Cardinal entered Melbourne Cup calculations with two mile Belmont win earlier this month.
Qewy can be found at a current quote of $34 in futures Melbourne Cup betting.
Another noted Melbourne Cup performed international that is unlikely to head back to Oz this spring meanwhile is the Michael Bell-trained Big Orange.
The Duke Of Marmalade gelding was fifth to $101 winner Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ before just sneaking into the top 10 in last year’s Melbourne Cup results.
The reigning Goodwood Cup winner also finished a subsequent third in the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m) when a quarter-length off the winner Beautiful Romance.
This year Big Orange has been in standout form including his wins in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes (3264m) in late May and his last start Royal Ascot success in the Group 1 Gold Cup (4014m).
The Ascot Gold Cup win especially will see Big Orange come under the eye of the Melbourne Cup handicapper and Bell fears his galloper will be too heavily weighted for the classic on the first Tuesday of November.
The bookies are still keeping Big Orange fairly safe in betting at $26.
Check out the latest Melbourne Cup 2017 betting markets online now at Ladbrokes.com.au and lock in the juicy antepost odds on offer.
