Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby can see Folkswood fighting out the finish of the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday if he can repeat his Cox Plate performance last start.

Kerrin McEvoy, above, rides Folkswood in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Folkswood stuck to his guns and claimed third placing behind super mare Winx in the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28 and Appleby said that the English galloper has done everything right since.

“Folkswood came out of the Cox Plate in good form and has prepped well going into this race,” Appleby said.

“A repeat performance of that run will put him bang there in the Emirates.”

Appleby’s travelling foreman Chris Connett has been looking after Folkswood while in Australia and said that the Exceed And Excel five year old had recovered well from his Cox Plate third placing.

“We couldn’t be happier with him,” Connett said.

“He came out of the race (Cox Plate) very well and he did his last serious gallop on Saturday and then he stretched his legs this morning.

“She (Winx) is a superb mare and running against her is kind of like knocking your head up against a brick wall.

“We would’ve taken our chance and tried our best but it does make it easier (that she’s not in the race).”

Cox Plate jockey Kerrin McEvoy will take the ride again on Folkswood who will jump from the outside gate in the fourteen horse Emirates Stakes field following the early scratching of the Robert Hickmott trained Sir Isaac Newton.

McEvoy and Folkswood also combined for a win two starts back in the Listed $300,000 Cranbourne Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne on October 15.

Early betting for the Emirates at Ladbrokes.com.au has Folkswood as the $5.50 favourite in a wide open betting race that has five horses under the $10 mark.

On the second line of betting is the three year old Cliff’s Edge at $6 just ahead of the Kiwi galloper Gingernuts at $6.50.