Fandango dances into Caulfield Cup with Herbert Power win

Brad Waters - Saturday October 14

Lord Fandango was at the bottom of the Caulfield Cup order of entry but victory in a war of attrition on Saturday propelled the import into the field for next Saturday's $3 million event.

Advertisement

Lord Fandango strode into the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Herbert Power Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Lord Fandango's chances of gaining a Caulfield Cup start were dim when he was 36^th in the order of entry on Monday but his win in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) earned him a ballot exemption for next weekend's race.

Young Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander said the speed set by Aloft in the early and middle stages played a big part in Lord Fandango's win under the guidance of apprentice Ben Allen.

"He's a horse that stays really well and over 2000m, he's not even getting warm and today 2400(m), the Lloyd Williams horses (Aloft and Foundry) really set it up for him, a strong pace up front," Alexander said.

"It was perfect."

Racing Victoria handicappers could impose a small Caulfield Cup weight penalty for Lord Fandango but Alexander said the entire's current 50kg handicap made it worth backing up the five-year-old in seven days.

"We haven't really spoken about it but you would think that if we give him an easy week, he's got to go into the Caulfield Cup with a great chance with the light weight," Alexander said.

"He's in great form and just looking at him today, he looked an absolute picture so it would be hard to hold the owners back."

International runner Wall Of Fire ran on well late to get within a length of the winner while Gallic Chieftain, from the Darren Weir, stable was third.

Aloft drifted from $3.70 to start as a $4.20 favourite but could only beat Metropolitan Handicap winner Foundry ($7.50) home with the pair finishing more than 30 lengths from the winner.

Aloft's rider Ben Melham said his mount got his tongue over the bit while Michael Dee had no excuse for Foundry's poor performance.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Kidmenever struggled at his Australian debut, fading to finish 14 lengths from the winner after racing close to the speed.

"As quickly as I went forward was as quickly as I went back," Kidmenever's jockey Glyn Schofield said.

Advertisment

More Reading...

Gimcrack Winner Chasing Magic Millions 2YO Classic – Ole Kirk Half-Sister Sells At MM

Putting in a forget run last time out when going too hard and running out of steam late, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s G3 ATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki bounced back on Saturday, pulling clear to win the $150,000 Aquis Gold Pearl QTIS 2YO (1100m) at the Gold Coast.

Russian Revolution on a Winning Wave

Russian Revolution was in hot form on Saturday and leading the way was his quality mare Miss Joelene, who stamped herself as one of Queensland’s best mares in training with back-to-back wins in the $500,000 TAB Magic Millions The Wave at the Gold Coast.

G1 Potential for $3million Sunlight Winner Grafterburners

Group 1 targets await emerging sprinter Grafterburners after a brilliant win in Saturday night’s $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) at the Gold Coast.

Spywire Caps Magic Day for Trapeze Artist - Half-Brother for MM

Great day for Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist with a new stakes-winner when Disneck took out the Group III VRC Standish Handicap at Flemington and then at the Gold Coast talented four year-old Spywire landed the $1million Magic Millions They Syndicate (1100m)

Kia Ora Bred and Sold Invincible Gelding Wins $250,000 Rising Stars C&G

Angela Jones and Now Is The Hour ran their rivals into the ground with a bold front-running performance to win the $250,000 Scone Race Club Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Plate (1300m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Yulong Bred and Sold Poster Girl wins $250,000 Rising Stars F&M

Chris Munce’s affinity with the Magic Millions Carnival continued on Saturday when his progressive mare Poster Girl won the $250,000 Experience Gold Coast Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Chica Mojito Wins $500,000 The Lakes - Breaks Wyong Track Record

Super-consistent mare Chica Mojito broke through for her first Australian victory with an outstanding performance in the A$500,000 Limitless Lodge The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong on Saturday.

Sires With Winners - Saturday January 10

Here is the full list of 79 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Disneck Dominant in G3 Standish

Five year-old gelding Disneck was the very first winner for Trapeze Artist when he won at Rosehill as a pre-Christmas 2YO and three years on he’s never been going better with a barnstorming win in the $200,000 Group III VRC Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday his first stakes win.

$20,000 Yearling Yellow Brick Becomes $3.5million Earner!

A new chapter in the Yellow Brick fairytale was written at the Gold Coast on Saturday night when Tony and Maddy Sears’ pin-up galloper showed his trademark heart to win the $1.5 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m).