Owner Darren Dance will rely on his jockey to overcome Dandino’s outside draw in the Caulfield Cup.
The manager of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Dance has two runners in Saturday’s $3 million Cup (240mom), Seismos and 2013 runner-up Dandino.
The pair, both trained in the UK by Marco Botti, came up with the extremities at Tuesday night’s barrier draw with Seismos to jump from the inside gate.
Dance is delighted with the barrier for Seismos, who will be ridden by Craig Newitt, while he will leave it to Craig Williams to try to get Dandino into a good position.
“I couldn’t believe it when 22 came out,” Dance said.
“I was hoping I was seeing double.
“Someone said to me if you’re going to draw 22 you wouldn’t want anyone else on your horse.
“Craig Williams has been there, done it before.
“You just hope in that first 400 metres that he can slot in somewhere and give you some sort of chance.”
Dandino jumped from gate 16 when he finished second to Fawkner with Williams aboard a year ago.
Apart from the barrier hiccup, Dance said Dandino’s weight was spot-on, the same as it was before last year’s race and that he had been able to get there without having the same pressure applied.
He also said that with another year under the belt, Botti had a better understanding of the horse.
Dance says Seismos should be able to take full advantage of the rails draw and he expects him to be a big player in the finish.
Both horses will have their final hit-outs before Saturday’s race at Werribee on Thursday morning with their race jockeys aboard.
