'Francis' straight to Caulfield Cup

Charlie Appleby has pinpointed the G1 Caulfield Cup on October 21 as the next start for highly-regarded Godolphin contender Francis Of Assisi.

The gelding, who will be an eight-year-old to Australian time when he runs in Melbourne, has been seen out only once since scoring a 10-length victory in the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last November.
 
He came home a tame 8th of 11 runners in the G3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, over ten and a half furlongs at Haydock Park on August 12.
 
But Appleby was not concerned. "The ground (good to soft) didn't really suit him at Haydock, but he has come forward for that run. He's come out of the race really well.
 
"If he comes through the quarantine and travels well to Australia, his first run there will be in the Caulfield Cup.
 
"We have time on our side then, before the Melbourne Cup, if there is any hiccup in training.
 
"I'm looking forward to taking 'Francis' back to Melbourne, as well as our other horses. We have also nominated Qewy, Kidmenever and Penglai Pavilion for the G1 Melbourne Cup," he added.
 
"Kidmenever also holds an entry in the Caulfield Cup," he added.
 
Saeed bin Suroor has nominated four horses for the Melbourne Cup: Natural Scenery, Prize Money, Red Galileo, and Winning Story, while James Cummings has nominated three: Etymology, Hartnell and Tally.