The English stayer Dandino has galloped his way into the Caulfield Cup picture with a sparkling piece of work that was followed by the announcement Craig Williams would ride him in the $2.5 million race.
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Dandino, who has a reputation as a reluctant performer on the gallops at home, surprised rider Paul Francis with his enthusiasm in a 1400m dash around Werribee racecourse.
“Normally he’s quite lazy, but he’s a different horse today,” Francis said.
“And he’s done it easily.”
Dandino is a $13 chance in most Caulfield Cup markets, although he is as short as $11 with some betting agencies, with the Chris Waller-trained Hawkspur favourite for Saturday week’s race.
And Dandino is likely to be into single figures by race day on the back of his efforts on the training track and the engagement of Williams.
In Tuesday’s gallop at Werribee, Dandino gave the well-performed Cox Plate prospect Side Glance a two length start and was untroubled to pick him up in the final 200m of the 1400m gallop and beat him convincingly.
And according to Francis he had plenty more to give.
“I just let him do what he wanted, I didn’t ask for anything,” Francis said.
“If he’s like this next week I’ll be really happy.”
The gallop typified Dandino’s preparation, one that has been trouble-free since the horse entered quarantine in Newmarket almost a month ago.
The seven-year-old lost only 7kg on the flight to Melbourne and put on 11kg in the first three days at Werribee.
Francis said he is now 2kg heavier than when he won the American St Leger (2700m) at his last start on August 17.
The St Leger win came after the Marco Botti-trained runner had put together a string of strong performances over the previous 12 months.
Like most internationals, Dandino has to be taken largely on trust.
But several from lines can be drawn between him and other imports and visitors who have performed well in Australia.
In May last year he finished a head behind Sea Moon in the Listed Tapster Stakes (2400m) at Goodwood and in the same season was second to My Quest For Peace.
In October last year Dandino was a half length second to Joshua Tree in the Woodbine International in Canada, a race in which French Derby winner Reliable Man, who also won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick last autumn, finished eighth.