Francis Of Assisi fine after minor travel knock

Brad Waters - Tuesday Oct 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...
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
One to Watch – Mornington
A homebred for Seymour Bloodstock with an intriguing pedigree opened her account with a stylish win at Mornington on Tuesday.
Darley Announce 2027 European Fees -Night of Thunder Soars to €450,000
It will be Dubawi central at Darley in 2027 with the legendary 24YO sire priced at £350,000, but the roster is topped by his champion son Night of Thunder at €450,000 and there are three more G1 winning sons or grand-sons of Dubawi also added to a power packed roster.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Frankel Heads Juddmonte Euro Roster at £350,000
Fresh from siring outstanding young stayer Point of Law (GB) to win the $10m Group I VRC Melbourne Cup, champion sire Frankel will again top the roster at Banstead Manor Stud for Juddmonte.
Haras d'Etreham Set Fee for Hotazhell
Triple Group I winner Hotazhell will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham in France at a fee of €15,000 next year before then shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.