Cranbourne Cup winner Folkswood is now taking on racing toughest assignment – trying to stop champion mare Winx in her quest for a third straight Cox Plate at Moonee Valley this Saturday, 28 October.
Folkswood is one of two international runners in the $3 million Group 1 classic and will be ridden by in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who also partnered him at Cranbourne, the day after winning the $10 million The Everest in Sydney on Redzel.
The northern hemisphere four-year-old will then likely head to the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington to contest the Group 1 Emirates Stakes, formerly the Mackinnon Stakes, over 2000 metres.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said it was great that a Cranbourne Cup winner was mixing it in the best company over the Spring Racing Carnival.
He said it was an indication of how the status of the $300,000 local feature race had lifted in recent years.
At Moonee Valley on Saturday, Folkswood will aim to deliver an eighth victory on Australian soil over the past 12 months for his trainer, the UK-based Charlie Appleby.
Winx will be trying for her 22nd straight victory – in the Cox Plate – and will attempt to equal Kingston Town’s record of three straight wins in the race.
– Garry Howe
