breednet.com.au

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 36th 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...
Derryn Filly Gives Deja Vu Vibe
Robbie Patterson unveiled a star three-year-old at Wednesday’s New Plymouth meeting last year, and 12 months down the track, another daughter of Derryn made a sparkling debut on his home track.
$3.7Million Mare Tops Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Day 1
Lush Lips (GB), who won Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana last month, sold for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm to top Tuesday’s Book 1 opener of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. A strong weanling trade and the sale of 17 horses for $1 million or more also marked the session, which posted double-digit increases across the board.
Consecutive Listed John Letts Cup Wins For Air Assault
Recording his seventh stakes victory, the Andrew Gluyas trained Air Assault produced an outstanding effort at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup day, romping away by more than six and a half lengths to record his second consecutive Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) victory.
Homegrown glory- Victorian-bred Half Yours claims the 2025 Melbourne Cup
The Australian breeding industry was in the spotlight at Flemington yesterday as Half Yours — bred by Janice and the late Colin McKenna — stormed to victory in the 165th running of the $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 m) under a superbly judged ride from Jamie Melham.
Star Filly on the Rise for Playing God
Melbourne Cup day always draws a huge crowd out to Perth's beautiful old Ascot racecourse, and 2025 was no exception!
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two trials at Rosehill on Wednesday morning featured juvenile winners by Russian Revolution and Snitzel, while we also got a first look at the $1.7million full brother to Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic.
2025 VRC Oaks Pedigree Preview – Who is Bred to Stay?
The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 13 that features no G1 winners it’s a real year for the up and comers.
Left Wondering
Sometimes a stallion comes along and leaves all too quickly, leaving us wondering if things could have turned out very differently.
Hello Youmzain Filly Primed for G1 Guineas
Tony Pike couldn’t have wished for a smoother lead-up with Cream Tart ahead of the filly’s sternest challenge at Riccarton.
Farmer no property GST argument a loser at Tribunal
Back in May of this year I was very pleased to share details of a tax case that held that a farmer need not pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the subdivision and sale of his 10-acre holding. CGT was avoided as it only applies to capital assets acquired on or after 19 September 1985.