Global Weekly Review: Godolphin win caps McEvoy's epic weekend

Kerrin McEvoy, well known to Godolphin fans for nearly two decades, squeezed a little more into a mighty impressive prizemoney pot when partnering Folkswood to an effortless debut victory in Australia in Sunday's Listed Cranbourne Cup.

Yet again, McEvoy showed why he is so respected and admired as a jockey worldwide. He had the Charlie Appleby-trained Folkswood quickly across from an awkward draw and was beautifully positioned, one off the rail, by the turn out of the home straight.

He cruised to victory by two and three-quarter lengths, giving Appleby his seventh winner in Australia and providing a welcome boost to the Godolphin touring party following the injury to Francis Of Assisi and the setback to Kidmenever, who finished 8th in Saturday's G2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.

McEvoy said of Folkswood: "He was very dominant. He gave me a great feel. He is a well-balanced horse, who will take readily to the tighter tracks here in Australia."

Appleby is to make up his mind on a follow-up target in the next 48 hours. The gelding looks a natural candidate for the best 2,000m races, but he also has the sharpness to revert to 1,600m should the trainer wish to drop him back in trip.

McEvoy, dubbed the 'Man from Streaky Bay', has enjoyed a close association with Godolphin, having ridden No 2 (behind Frankie Dettori) for the stable in Europe, before returning to Australia to take on the role of No 1 when Peter Snowden was in charge.

He won a Classic in Britain for Godolphin, aboard Rule Of Law in the 2004 Doncaster St Leger, and notched G1 wins on two great Darley stallions, Dubawi and Shamardal.

The bulk of McEvoy's prizemoney at the weekend came, of course, from The Everest, the world's richest Turf race, won by Redzel, a five-year-old gelded son of Snitzel, who held on tenaciously all the way up the Randwick straight.

"It was the best day I've had riding in Sydney," McEvoy told me. "It was a fascinating day, a very good undercard, just what Sydney racing wants.

"Before the race, in the jockeys' room, it was a bit different. Not like before a Melbourne Cup, but different. It was a bit tense, and clearly there was pressure.

"There was also a great atmosphere before the race, which the crowd (33,000) helped provide. You could feel it beforehand," he explained.

But, from Australia, where the Spring Carnival is getting particularly exciting, let us focus on Britain, where the best young horses for next year are emerging.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have a potential Classic type in Ghaiyyath, who galloped on resolutely to win the G3 Autumn Stakes very comfortably. He is by Dubawi out of the Galileo mare Nightime, an Irish 1,000 Guineas winner.