Global Weekly Preview: McEvoy set for Godolphin Grand Finale

Melbourne's famous Spring Carnival marked the re-establishment of Godolphin's successful link with Kerrin McEvoy, who made such a good impression in Europe a decade ago before then riding successfully for Darley on his return to Australia.

Among many achievements while second jockey to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable in Britain, McEvoy won a Doncaster St Leger (Rule Of Law, 2004) and rode both Dubawi and Shamardal to G1 victories.

McEvoy, who grew up in Streaky Bay, South Australia, knew Charlie Appleby when the latter was assistant to Saeed bin Suroor, so it was a natural move for the trainer to book his old friend for some of his horses in Melbourne this Spring.

Instantly, the association proved successful -- Qewy won the G3 Geelong Cup, Francis Of Assisi took the G3 Bendigo Cup, and Oceanographer came storming home to land the G3 Lexus Stakes  at Flemington -- all with McEvoy in the saddle.

Now, with the curtain about to drop on the Carnival, McEvoy and Appleby are poised to combine again, with Qewy, who followed his Geelong triumph with an excellent fourth in the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup. 

Qewy faces a maximum of eight rivals in Saturday's Listed Sandown Cup, over 3,200m (2 miles)  From his UK base at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket, Appleby said: "I am told that Qewy is in good order. James Ferguson (assistant trainer) said he came through a piece of work on Tuesday very well, and that he is ready to run again. "He has shown no ill-effects from his run in the Melbourne Cup (on Nov 1), and we expect him to  again acquit himself well. The distance will certainly suit, and Kerrin knows him inside out," he added.

Godolphin are also represented in the G2 Zipping Classic, over 2,400m, by Beautiful Romance and Secret Number, who finished 7th and 21st, respectively, in the Melbourne Cup. Both are trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Earlier on the card, John O'Shea sends out Morton's Fork, with Craig Williams aboard, in the G2 Sandown Guineas.