THE racing career of international stayer Dandino, one of the spring stars of the Darren Weir stable, is almost certainly over.
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Dandino has been scratched from Saturday’s group 2 $300,000 Zipping Classic, 2400m, at Sandown after Weir and veterinarians detected a “change” with a suspensory ligament in the nine-year-old.
Managing owner Darren Dance said the injury meant it was almost certainly “game over” for Dandino.
”I’d say its 90 percent he won’t race again.
“He’s been great for everyone (involved),” he said.
The injury is similar to the one which prematurely ended his 2014 Victorian spring carnival shortly before the Caulfield Cup when prepared by English trainer Marco Botti.
Dandino was then transferred to Weir, who oversaw the English-bred entire’s rehabilitation and return to the track.
Based at Warrnambool where he did most of work on the beach, Dandino had six starts for Weir, with his last two being a second in the Geelong Cup and win in the group 3 $300,000 Queen’s Cup, 2600m, at Flemington on Saturday.
The Queen’s Cup fulfilled an ambition of connections to win at least one race in Australia.
Dandino’s first campaign in Australia in 2013 featured a second in the Caulfield Cup and fifth in Melbourne Cup.
He also raced in Europe and the United States for the Ballan-based Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock syndicate, winning the 2013 United States St Leger and finishing second in the same event a year later.
The son of Dansili also carried the ATB colours at Royal Ascot in 2013, finishing second in the prestigious Hardwicke Stakes on his way to a career record of nine wins in 37 starts for $1,986,675 in stakes.
Dance said detecting the suspensory problem before he raced again had avoided seeing him break down on the track.
He said with him not likely to race again, it was pleasing to see him going out on a high. Dance said Dandino’s spring form had put to the forefront’s of racegoers’ minds – enhancing his prospects for a stud career. He said the priority now would be to find a stud to stand him.
Dandino’s injury is a rare setback in what has been a bumper spring for Weir.
Weir is hoping to secure the spring racing carnival trainers’ premiership at Sandown.
He trails David Hayes and Tom Dabernig by a half point.
The winner will collected $25,000 in prizemoney and a further $25,000 for their nominated charity, which for Weir is Down Syndrome Victoria.
