Charlie Appleby wins Geelong Cup with Qewy for Godolphin

Godolphin are set to finalise their team for the Emirates Melbourne Cup early next week after Qewy earned his place in the Flemington showpiece with victory in the Geelong Cup.

The six-year-old showed himself to be a serious contender for the 'race that stops a nation' by holding off Grey Lion by a long head in a thrilling finish.

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby was also responsible for the third home, Oceanographer. He, too, is a Melbourne Cup possible.

Godolphin also have Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish, Secret Order, Francis Of Assisi and Hartnell, who takes on hot favourite Winx in the Cox Plate on Saturday.

"I think Qewy has just about crept into the Melbourne Cup. He could potentially get an extra half a kilo which would guarantee us a chance of a run there," Appleby told At The Races.

"Likewise with Oceanographer and I was delighted with his run.

"If the two them can get a run it would certainly be considered running the pair of them.

"Second Wave will hopefully run next weekend in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, so we'll just see how he trials out there.

"Francis Of Assisi runs there a bit later on in the Bendigo."

He went on: "The team down there are delighted with the way Scottish has come out of his race, so he's still under consideration as a possible runner in the Melbourne Cup himself.

"We'll watch the Cox Plate and see how Winx and Hartnell perform there before we make a serious decision regarding Scottish because he's got other options as well as the Melbourne Cup.

"We could look at something like the Emirates, formerly the Mackinnon, so we'll watch with interest this weekend and probably regroup on Sunday/Monday and to hope to try to finalise where to place them all."

Sky Bet cut Qewy to 33/1 from 100/1 for the Emirates Melbourne Cup for which Godolphin are also responsible for 9/2 favourite Hartnell.