Talented apprentice Ben Allen retains the mount on lightweight chance Lord Fandango in the Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Apprentice Ben Allen and Lord Fandango, above, will team up again in the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Allen was on board Lord Fandango when he gained automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Group 2 $400,000 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
The German import has only 50kg in the Caulfield Cup and OTI Racing who race the five year old tweeted that Allen would be on board again this Saturday.
“Lord Fandango has pulled up well and will head to Caul Cup. Ben Allen keeps the ride. Exciting week for partners in Aust and UK,” OTI Racing said on twitter
Trainer Archie Alexander has reported that Lord Fandango has come through his Herbert Power Stakes win in great shape and will now have an easy week in the lead up to the Caulfield Cup on the weekend.
“He’s eaten up again overnight and looks bright and happy,” Alexander said.
“He just went for a swim again today and will have a nice easy week.
“With 50 kilos over a long distance it’s going to be a big help but it’s obviously a Caulfield Cup and there’s a lot of good horses in there.
“But I think he deserves his chance.”
The OTI Racing Team will be hoping their Spring Carnival luck continues after they collected a winning treble at Caulfield last Saturday.
As well as Lord Fandango winning the Herbert Power Stakes and gaining a start in the Caulfield Cup, The OTI Racing Team also collected the winning cheques with Aloisia in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) and with Gailo Chop in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m).
Early betting for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au has Lord Fandango marked as a $21 chance while the Kiwi mare Bonneval and the Darren Weir trained Humidor share favouritism at $6.50.
Bonneval suffered her first defeat this Spring Carnival campaign when sixth to Gailo Chop in the Ladbrokes Stakes and even though she pulled up with some scratches and bruises, co-trainer Murray Baker expects her to take her place in the Caulfield Cup field.
Early market order for 2017 Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6.50 Bonneval, Humidor, $7 Admire Deus, Johannes Vermeer, $7.50 Amelie’s Star, $9 Harlem, $13 Inference, Venture Storm, $15 Jon Snow, $21 Abbey Marie, Lord Fandango, Marmelo, $26 Almandin, Single Gaze, $34 Lizzie L’Amour, $41 Big Duke, Wicklow Brave, $51 or better the rest.
