The James Fanshawe-trained Dandino, a very close second to the smart Sea Moon at Goodwood recently in the listed Southern daily Echo Tapster Stakes, will next been seen at Royal Ascot after connections decided to have a crack at the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at the showcase June fixture, writes Elliot Slater.
Trained until November of last term by James Given for whom he won a number of big prizes including last season’s Group 2 Qipco Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, Dandino came through the handicapping ranks the previous term where he famously improved enough to win the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot before going on to fail by just a head to beat Rebel Soldier in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The five-year-old then joined leading jumps handler Nicky Henderson in November with a view to having a crack at hurdling but never made it to the track over timber and is now concentrating on pursuing his Flat career under Fanshawe’s guidance.
The Newmarket-based handler was delighted despite coming off second best after a prolonged struggle with Sea Moon at Goodwood in a race that saw Dandino serve it up to the long odds-on favourite and Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up when leading at the furlong pole. It was only in the very last strides that Ryan Moore managed to force Sir Michael Stoute’s thorough stayer back in front to score by a head in a truly pulsating finish that delighted the punters who love to bet on racing at the famous course.
Having pushed Sea Moon all the way, Fanshawe - as well as those who give out horse racing tips - feel that a bid for the Hardwicke Stakes is not unrealistic with a horse who was rated 110 going into his seasonal return but may well now find himself rated a few pounds higher. As a winner at the royal meeting before there are plenty of grounds for optimism that the Elite Racing Club-owned son of Dansili will give his enthusiastic supporters something to shout about in the big race.
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