Godolphin’s popular English stayer Qewy has been retired from racing following his unplaced effort in last Saturday’s Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.
English stayer Qewy, above, has been retired from the race track. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Charlie Appleby trained Qewy was sent out as the $3.20 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but after sitting outside the leader and eventual winner Vengeur Masque, faded in the straight to finish sixth.
The eight year old will now return to England with the rest of Appleby’s Spring Carnival contingent.
“He’s had a long and distinguished career and has always given his best,” Appleby said.
“It’s been a pleasure to train him, he has the admiration of the whole team, he’s been a great horse for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin.”
Qewy has gained a huge following during his two trips to Australia which netted him a win in the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong and a win in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Sandwiched in between those two wins was probably Qewy’s best performance when fourth to Almandin in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Qewy then returned to Australia again this year to win the Group 3 $300,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo during this year’s carnival and took his prizemoney earnings to AUS$880,765.
Appleby also had had success with Qewy’s stablemate Folkswood during the Melbourne Spring Carnival with the Exceed And Excel five year old winning the Listed $300,000 Cranbourne Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne on October 15 before running third behind Winx and Humidor in the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28.