Dandino is on the second line of 2015 Queen’s Cup betting markets and trainer Darren Weir believes that the imported stayer has an excellent chance to return to winning form in the Group 3 event at Flemington on Saturday.
Dandino has the chance to record his first win in Australia when he contests the 2015 Queen’s Cup at Flemington tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Dandino made his long-awaited return to racing with a credible effort in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 and he improved each time that he was seen at the races in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12 and Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 26 before he finished an impressive fourth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
The Dansili entire missed out on a start in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and he instead contested the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21 where he finished second behind Almoonqith.
Weir told Racing Ahead that he was very happy with the performance of Dandino in the Geelong Cup and he is confident that he will be more than competitive if he is able to replicate that effort in the 2015 Queen’s Cup tomorrow.
“It was a great run and the winner was just too good,” Weir said.
“We had every chance and hopefully he can bring that form to Flemington tomorrow.
“If he does, Flemington and 2600 metres will be great for him.
“I’m just not too sure about the give in the ground.
“I don’t really know about that, but you would think being an older horse it would have to help.”
Dandino has generally been ridden as a backmarker during his racing career to date, but he showed that he had some tactical versatility when he was settled just behind the speed in the early stages of the Turnbull Stakes.
Weir said that he will not give jockey Ben Melham any firm instructions, but he is confident that Melham will be able to settle the veteran gelding just behind the speed to give him the run of the race in the Queen’s Cup.
“From the good draw I will just leave it to Benny and Benny and Peter will sort that out,” Weir said.
“I would have thought that he would be fourth or fifth getting a beautiful run and he will get his chance at the top of the straight.”
Dandino is currently available at 2015 Queen’s Cup odds of $2.70 with Ladbrokes and he is on the second line of betting behind Godolphin-owned Secret Number ($2.60).
