Dandino primed for St Leger defence

Saturday 16 August 2014, 10:33am

Dandino will have his final lead-up to the Caulfield Cup when he attempts his defence of the American St Leger at Arlington on Sunday.

The seven-year-old Marco Botti-trained entire is set to follow the same program as last year when he finished second at Caulfield before his fifth in the Melbourne Cup.

Owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Dandino has had just two runs since then, at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, without troubling the judge.

"When he ran at Royal Ascot he needed the run and when he ran him back at Newmarket the ground went too soft for him," Botti said.

"Dandino definitely handles the track and we hope he can repeat his form of last year.

"Frankie Dettori rode the horse in the Hardwicke Stakes last year, so he knows the horse well and he's an uncomplicated ride.

"If all goes to plan his next target would be the Caulfield Cup and then Melbourne. That's the plan."

Andrew Balding's Havana Beat, who ended a 22-month losing streak in a Listed race at Sandown at his latest start, and David Simcock's Moment In Time are the other British challengers.

Aidan O'Brien saddles the one-eyed Eye Of the Storm, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore who also teams up with Adelaide for Ballydoyle in the Grade One Secretariat Stakes.

All going well, Adelaide is scheduled to come to Australia for the Cox Plate before possibly joining the Chris Waller stable.

– PAA

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