Melbourne Cup 2013 Preparations On Track For Dandino

The Melbourne Cup 2013 preparations for Dandino remain on track and managing co-owner Darren Dance has confirmed that the European-trainer stayer has recovered from his fast-finishing second behind Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Dandino has continued to impress at International Equine Centre in Werribee in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

Dandino has continued to impress at International Equine Centre in Werribee in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Dandino had no luck from the outside barrier in his Australian racing debut and was giving the leader over twelve lengths with 800 metres left to run but was able to fly down the outside in the final stages of the race to finish a close second.

Dance told Racing Ahead this morning that Dandino had suffered no harm from his Caulfield Cup effort and would head into the 2013 Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Saturday in perfect condition.

“I was down there on Wednesday and Paul Francis was riding him in work,” Dance said on RSN.

“He said that you wouldn’t have even known that the horse had gone around last Saturday because he is in such great order.

“We had a plan to re-shoe him after the Caulfield Cup and that was done and the farrier was really pleased.

“The vet said that he had taken no harm from the run and he is within a kilo of what he was before the race.

“He seems to be really thriving here and you have to make sure you keep his weight right because it can get away from them.”

Dance said that everything has gone to plan with Dandino since he arrived in Australia but admits that he will be a bundle of nerves in the lead-up to ‘the race that stops a nation’ and is desperately hoping that Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather does not deliver a deluge of rain in the coming week.

“We couldn’t be happier but it is just that anxious wait eight days before the race,” Dance said.

“There is rain here now so we are hoping that disappears because he is no good at all unless it is firm.

“I know that he has to have one more gallop but I will leave it to Marco (Botti).

“Whether that is Thursday or Friday I’m not sure yet and they will just play it by ear.”

Dance is hopeful that Dandino can become the first horse since champion mare Makybe Diva in 2004 to win the Melbourne Cup after finishing second two and a half weeks earlier in the Caulfield Cup.

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.