Francis Of Assisi fine after minor travel knock

Brad Waters - Tuesday October 3

Godolphin galloper Francis Of Assisi has shrugged off a minor travelling issue before stepping out at Werribee on Tuesday morning.

Advertisement
Francis Of Assisi thrashing his opposition at Flemington last spring. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Last year's Bendigo Cup and VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner is one of four Charlie Appleby-trained horses to arrive in Melbourne on the weekend along with Sandown Cup winner Qewy, Folkswood and Kidmenever.

Godolphin travelling foreman Chris Connett told RSN927 that Francis Of Assisi "gave himself a little superficial knock" while travelling but had quickly recovered.

"He gave himself a little superficial knock on the plane on the way down but he went out this morning and had a little trot around and he's all systems go," Connett said.

"He'll canter around tomorrow and we are very happy with him."

Connett said Appleby planned to run Francis Of Assisi first-up in the Caulfield Cup on October 21 and suggested Australian punters ignore his only 2017 run in which he finished more than 10 lengths from the winner in Group III company at Haydock on August 12.

"That run at Haydock wasn't obviously the greatest run but he has come on leaps and bounds since that run and he seems to thrive down here in Australia," Connett said.

Sportsbet has Francis Of Assisi as a $23 chance in Caulfield while Cornett said Appleby planned for Qewy to have a crack at back-to-back Geelong Cups first-up later this month.

Qewy has had two starts in 2017 for a fourth during the Royal Ascot carnival and a well-beaten effort at Group I level in the Goodwood Cup in August.

The Herbert Power Stakes is the likely first-up target for Kidmenever, whose last win came in the 2016 Swiss Derby while Folkswood, a son of Australian stallion Exceed And Excel will probably make his Australian debut in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday week.

"He's a very interesting horse," Connett said of Folkswood.

"He ran a lifetime best out in Dubai when he just got beat in a Group I by Decorated Knight, who has come out and won two Group Is in Europe this year so the form really stacks up.

"We're on target to run in the Caulfield Stakes and Charlie and make a decision from there."

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.