Dandino ready for Caulfield Cup challenge

Tuesday 15 October 2013, 11:49am

A faultless first fortnight in Australia is behind him, he has the ideal jockey and the track will be to his liking.

The English stayer Dandino now needs a share of luck at the barrier draw and he will be challenging for favouritism and for victory in Saturday's $2.5 million Caulfield Cup.

Dandino is on the third line of Cup betting with most outlets as bookies brace for a continuation of the flood of money that has come for the horse since Craig Williams was announced as his rider.

Along with a couple of outstanding gallops in the past week, the booking of Williams, who has ridden the past two Cup winners has forced Dandino in to $7.50 from $15 a week ago.

"The jockey's happy with him, the trainer's happy, the weather forecast is good and the horse is in great order," said principal part-owner Darren Dance.

"We're expecting a dry track, which he needs, and from what I've seen, his work has been outstanding."

Dandino comes into the Cup off a win in the American St Leger, the same lead up his stablemate Jakkalberry brought to Australia when he finished third in last year's Melbourne Cup.

Dandino is the only European-trained runner to make the 18-horse field following the decision by the Melbourne Racing Club committee on Tuesday to leave the only other international acceptor, Forgotten Voice among the emergencies.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said the decision to install the Gai Waterhouse-trained Julienas into the field ahead of Forgotten Voice had been a difficult one.

"Both horses were equally qualified, but Julienas' performance to finish second in the Metropolitan gave him the nod," Carpenter said.

Forgotten Voice has mixed flat and jumps racing with success in recent months and last start won the Group Three Glorious Stakes (2400m) at Goodwood.

That was his sixth win from only 17 starts on the flat.

He is the first of four emergency acceptors.

Carpenter said the Caulfield Cup ranked as a race of great depth with four Derby winners - including German Derby champion Waldpark - and two Oaks winners.

It is from that group that the favourite Hawkspur and second favourite Royal Descent come.

Hawkspur has maintained the form that won him this year's Queensland Derby and Royal Descent, a 10-length winner of the Australian Oaks, had been progressing well until her unlucky run in the Turnbull Stakes last time out.

The Caulfield Cup barriers are drawn at 11am (AEDT) on Wednesday.

– AAP

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