Godolphin raider gets green light

GODOLPHIN has dismissed fears over Francis Of Assisi after the major cups contender suffered a minor injury while travelling to Australia.

Dominant winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Bendigo Cup last spring, Francis Of Assisi has been restricted to walking after knocking his nearside foreleg on the flight to Melbourne.

“Something superficial, he will go out on the track tomorrow, nothing major,” Charlie Appleby stable foreman Chris Connett said.

“The main target is the Caulfield Cup for him, it is just under three weeks away now, which is perfect for him.”

Francis Of Assisi is a $26 chance in both the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

Stablemates Kidmenever, Folkswood and Qewy, winner of the Geelong and Sandown cups last spring before finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup, worked lightly at Werribee yesterday.

Qewy is expected to return to Geelong as his pipe-opener but both Folkswood and Kidmenever could target the October 14 Caulfield Guineas meeting.

Folkswood’s first target is the Caulfield Stakes. For Kidmenever it is the Herbert Power. Decisions will be made after those.

“Everything is pretty fluid,” Connett said.

Meanwhile, Kerrin McEvoy has picked up the plumb ride on star New Zealand mare Bonneval in the $3 million Caulfield Cup on October 21.