Qewy out to add Sandown Cup to Godolphin’s spring haul

Assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby, Ferguson believes a critical factor behind the stable’s remarkable Melbourne strike rate is the Werribee track.

“It’s been incredible to watch these horses thrive the way they have,” Ferguson said. “At home (Newmarket), they work up a hill. At Werribee, they’re able to gallop on a lovely, flat track and they’re able to stride out a little quicker.

“Horses like Qewy, Oceanographer and Scottish have absolutely thrived here, while Francis Of Assisi has just been remarkable.

“We’ve learned so much about the Australian racing system on this visit and Charlie and Sheikh Mohammed, back in Dubai, are delighted.

“Hopefully Qewy can help us go out with a win before we go home. I think we’ve earned a ticket to come back next year.”

Qewy, winner of the Geelong Cup and a brave Melbourne Cup fourth, is “in great form” ahead of Saturday’s Listed Sandown Cup (3200m), according to Ferguson.

“He’s come out of the Melbourne Cup very, very well. He’s in absolutely fantastic shape,” he said. “In every run here he’s exceeded our expectations and to run fourth in the Melbourne Cup was a fantastic thrill for the whole team.

“The 3200m trip suits, as he showed in the Cup, and he looks capable of controlling this race.

“Kerrin McEvoy rode him very well from the front at Geelong and he’s back on.

“We’re quite confident of him running well again.”

Ferguson said McEvoy was “riding at the very top of his game” and “the race is Qewy’s to lose.”

Appleby, Ferguson and McEvoy combined to win the Bendigo and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Francis Of Assisi, the Lexus Stakes with Oceanographer, the Geelong Cup with Qewy and second in the Caulfield Cup with Scottish.

Second Wave was the only stable runner to underperform, finishing a distant ninth in the Moonee Valley Cup.

Three other internationals — Big Orange, Secret Number and Beautiful Romance — will contest the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown.