Dandino Ready to Return to Arlington

Few horses at last year's Arlington International Racecourse meet were more remarkable than Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock's Dandino in the $400,000 American St. Leger.  The Marco Botti-trained son of superb sire Dansili (also sire of Dank, winner of the Beverly D. later that afternoon) regrouped quickly after being shut off outside the eighth-pole and forged to the front after altering course under a confident ride by Ryan Moore to beat Team Block's local fan favorite Suntracer by less than a length - a winning margin belying the nearly black horse's dominance.  The win was the second for the owner/trainer duo, who had won the inaugural running of the marathon event a year prior when Jakkalberry beat another local Team Block favorite, Ioya Bigtime.

Since then, Dandino campaigned briefly in his ownership's homeland of Australia - including a second in the classic Group I Caulfield Cup and a troubled fifth as the second choice in the Group I Melbourne Cup - and returned after a seven-month break in June of this year to finish sixth in two salty Group II events, the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 21 and the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket on July 10.

"Dandino is in very good form and will be very competitive at Arlington this year," reported Darren Dance, principal of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.  "Last start (at Newmarket) he raced on a wet track, which does not suit him, but we had to get that run under his belt for his preparation to bring him on so he is fit for Arlington.

"Both trainer Marco Botti and Australian jockey Craig Williams, who has been at Newmarket riding him, have said this week that he is in great form and feels terrific and will be a good chance in this year's St. Leger," Dance continued.  "We are hopeful that Frankie Dettori will be available to ride him this year."

Though Moore rode the muscular charge to an exceptional and popular victory in 2013, Dettori guided Dandino to one of his most impressive performances one race prior, despite being a loss, in the 2013 edition of the Hardwicke.  After dodging a fallen favorite in Ektihaam, Dettori gave Dandino a sharp recovery and almost defeated Thomas Chippendale.  In the process, Dandino bested subsequent Group I winner and 2014 Arlington Million possible Noble Mission, as well as the highly regarded duo of Universal and Mount Athos.  If reunited, the star-faced globetrotting warrior could give his connections even more reason to feel confident in their return to Chicagoland's premier oval.

"For us, Arlington (Million Day) is one of the world's great racing days for our team - we love the big, flat track and the hospitality that is afforded to us over your carnival has been second to none.  I personally will not be making the trip this season, as l will be busy with mares foaling, but my wife Elizabeth will be making the trip with owners Phil & Kim Brittain.  We will be delighted to try to win back-to-back St. Legers with Dandino," Dance concluded.