Visitor eyes Eclipse
Kidmenever in serious bid for more UK success
ENGLISH trainer Charlie Appleby will seek more Melbourne spring carnival silverware at Sandown on Saturday.
The Godolphin trainer will nominate Kidmenever for the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) and Folkswood for the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m).
Dominant last season and successful this year with Folkswood (Cranbourne Cup win and Cox Plate third) and Qewy (Bendigo Cup win), Appleby expects an improved effort from Kidmenever.
The raider was a disappointing eighth in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 14 but Appleby is confident he can rebound.
“We’re going to drop him back in trip to the Eclipse,” he said. “We were disappointed in the Herbert Power but they went pretty quick.
“We’ve purposefully given him the time.
“What we saw in Dubai, he had plenty of pace there for the 10 furlongs (2000m) so I don’t see any reason dropping back to the nine furlongs (1800m) won’t be a problem.”
Kidmenever was diagnosed with thumps and exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhaging after his Australian debut but Appleby said he had recovered.
“He’s been routinely vet checked all the way,” he said.
“He’s put good solid work in over the last three weeks … it’s all systems go heading towards the Eclipse.”
Qewy will return to England and be sent to a Godolphin rehoming facility after his glittering career ended with a sixth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Winner of three of five Australian starts for Bendigo, Sandown and Geelong cups victories, Qewy ran fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
“He deserves a healthy retirement,” Appleby said.