2016 Melbourne Cup Odds Update: Qewy over the odds

Geelong Cup winner Qewy is well over the odds for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington today, according to big race jockey Craig Williams.

Craig Williams, above, rides Qewy in the Melbourne Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Craig Williams, above, rides Qewy in the Melbourne Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Charlie Appleby trained stayer is marked at $26 for the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au and Williams takes over from Kerrin McEvoy who rode Qewy to an all the way win in the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on October 19 and the 

Appleby also trains Oceanographer who ran a closing third to Qewy in the Geelong Cup and subsequently gained a start in the Melbourne Cup with a last to first win in the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Hong Kong based jockey Chad Schofield takes the ride on Oceanographer who is on the third line of betting at $9 and Williams believes there is too much space in the betting between the two Appleby trained Melbourne Cup runners.

“The stable now has the second favourite with Oceanographer and they just can’t believe that there is such a difference with him in the market,” Williams said.

“He (Qewy) is a more straight forward horse than the other horse. The other horse has been great and ran sectional times but my horse Qewy has done nothing but thrive since his win.”

“It seems to be a formula that has worked really well with horses in the past to go win the Melbourne Cup and the Geelong Cup.”

Before his Geelong Cup win Qewy had been in the winner’s stall on three occasions in England with his latest win being over the hurdles over 3300m at Newbury in February 2015.

Qewy’s English form before arriving in Australia saw him visit the runner’s up stall twice with a second in the Ascot Stakes (2 miles, 4 furlongs) on June 14 followed by a second in the Summer Stakes over 1 mile, 6 furlongs, at Goodwood on July 26.

The Matt Cumani trained Grey Lion split the two Appleby horses in the Geelong Cup and is a $41 chance for the Melbourne Cup.

Qewy and Oceanographer are two of five Godolphin owned horses carrying the famous royal blue colours in the Melbourne Cup with Saeed Bin Suroor saddling up Beautiful Romance ($71) and Secret Number ($31) while Sydney based John O’Shea prepares the $5.50 favourite Hartnell.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.