Godolphin’s two English stayers Qewy and Oceanographer are looking to to gain entry into the Melbourne Cup when they go around in the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on Wednesday.
Oceanographer, above, is one of 2 Charlie Appleby trained runners in the Geelong Cup at Geelong. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Oceanographer has drawn barrier six in the ten horse Geelong Cup field with Ben Melham to ride while Qewy has drawn next to him at seven with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Qewy and Oceanographer are both weighted on the minimum with 50kg in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1 and a win in the Geelong Cup would help their chances of gaining a start in Australia’s most famous race.
A win by either of the Charlie Appleby trained stayers could attract a penalty for the Melbourne Cup and lift them up the order of entry for the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’.
“Oceanographer has settled in particularly well, and is working along nicely,’ Appleby said.
“We are hoping that Qewy can finish in the first three, which will enable him to qualify for the Cup, though he, too, is a long way down in the weights.”
Qewy is a proven stayer with a win over 3300m over the hurdles at Newbury in February last year and comes to Geelong with a last start second on the flat over 2800m in Handicap at Goodwood in England on July 26.
Oceanographer was a winner two starts back over 2000m in a Handicap at Doncaster followed by a seventh in a York Handicap on August 20.
The Godolphin royal blue colours will also be carrier by Arab Dawn who is prepared by their Australian trainer John O’Shea.
Arab Dawn has drawn the outside of the field with Dwayne Dunn taking the ride and is coming off a last start seventh to Real Love in the Group 3 $200,000 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on September 30.
Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has one runner in the Geelong Cup, Black Tomahawk, who is well overdue for a win after recording six placings from his last six starts.
Black Tomahawk has drawn nicely at barrier three and has Craig Williams back in the saddle replacing apprentice Michael Dee who rode the seven year old into third place behind Almandin and Assign in the Listed $120,000 italktravel Harry White Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on September 24.
Trainer Chris Waller will only have one Geelong Cup runner in Kinema after topweight Who Shot Thebarman was an early scratching after drawing barrier ten.
Craig Newitt gets the ride on the English import Kinema (barrier 1) who will be having his first outing the Waller stable following his last start eleventh in a 2800m Handicap at York in England on August 20.
