Dandino Out Of Caulfield Cup

European stayer Dandino has been ruled out of the 2014 Caulfield Cup after being found to be lame at trackwork this morning.

Dandino has been removed from the 2014 Caulfield Cup field due to injury. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Dandino has been removed from the 2014 Caulfield Cup field due to injury. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Dandino had impressed onlookers with his trackwork at the Werribee International Equine Centre since arriving in Australia over two weeks ago and connections were bullish about his chances in the race, but Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock owner Darren Dance revealed this afternoon that the Dansili gelding would miss the race after being found lame in his off front foreleg.

Dance told TVN that he is unsure how Dandino suffered the injury, but said there was no chance that last year’s runner-up would be able to take his place in the 2014 Caulfield Cup field.

“He’s lame in the near front leg and can’t possibly run on Saturday,” Dance said.

“We don’t know if he has knocked himself or what he has done, but he certainly won’t be able to run on Saturday.

“I don’t know, but experience tells me once you have an issue like this you can’t fix it quickly.”

The scratching of Dandino and the likely withdrawal of Gris Caro this afternoon means that Brambles and Araldo will now be given the chance to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) this weekend.

Araldo suffered a fractured back when he finished a tough third behind Ruscello in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he has returned to the races in excellent form.

The High Chaparral entire resumed with a seventh place finish in the Listed Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 30 and he made up good ground late when sixth in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before he went close to recording an upset win in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.

World class jockey Joao Moreira had been booked to ride Gris Caro in the Caulfield Cup, but he is now set to partner Araldo in the Group 1 event at Caulfield this weekend and will be having his first ever ride in the race.

Brambles has been a clear market mover in 2014 Caulfield Cup betting markets following the news breaking about both Gris Caro and Dandino and he is now into a quote of $13, while Araldo has been backed from $61 into Caulfield Cup odds of $41.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.