Godolphin owned stayer Francis Of Assisi put in strong claims for next year’s Melbourne Cup with a ten lengths demolition of the field in the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington today.
Francis Of Assisi, above, runs away to score a ten lengths win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
English jockey William Buick had Francis Of Assisi ($5.50) travelling sweetly behind the predicted leader Tom Melbourne ($2.40 favourite) and eased the Charlie Appleby trained seven year old into the clear on the home turn.
Buick held him up for fifty metres more but once he lengthened the reins Francis Of Assisi opened up to record one of the most impressive wins over the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
English import Vengeur Masque ($9) ran home for second with Tom Melbourne holding on for third.
Today’s win was the second Australian victory for Francis If Assisi who also won in fine style in taking out the Group 3 $300,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo on October 26.
“Going into the Bendigo we thought he was a horse that had a live shot, but galloped out better than we expected,” Appleby said.
“This horse you could just see mentally that he was thriving. Once he got his own head in front and won the Bendigo he thought he was King Kong so he has gone and showed that today.”
“They will now go home and look forward to next year.”
As well as Francis Of Assisi winning the Bendigo Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Appleby’s Godolphin Team also took the spoils with Qewy winning the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on October 19 and Oceanographer taking out the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on October 29.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | FRANCIS OF ASSISI (IRE) | Charlie Appleby | William Buick | – | 4 | 58kg | $5.50 |
| 2 | 7 | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 10L | 9 | 55.5kg | $9 |
| 3 | 3 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | Lee & Anthony Freedman | Dwayne Dunn | 10.75L | 8 | 57.5kg | $2.40F |
| 4 | 5 | DE LITTLE ENGINE | Danny O’Brien | Chad Schofield | 11.75L | 6 | 55.5kg | $6 |
| 5 | 6 | SECOND BULLET | Danny O’Brien | Damian Lane | 11.85L | 7 | 55.5kg | $17 |
| 6 | 2 | HOWARD BE THY NAME | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 11.95L | 2 | 58kg | $17 |
| 7 | 4 | JIM’S JOURNEY | Peter F Blanch | Ben Claridge | 16.45L | 3 | 55.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 9 | ANGEL’S TOUCH | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 16.85L | 1 | 55.5kg | $13 |
| 9 | 10 | AAGAS | Todd Balfour | Ben E Thompson (a) | 24.85L | 5 | 55.5kg | $15 |
