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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.

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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.

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