On any other day, Dandino would have won by two lengths but Williams’ indecision when Jet Away took off eventually cost him the race. Williams’ claim that he was beaten by the barrier draw really doesn’t stack up consdering Dunaden won from gate 22 the previous year. It was simply a rare bad day at Caulfield for Craig.

The Marco Botti trained charge now heads to Flemington as the $9.00 second favourite alongside Fiorente and that looks a good price to us. Indeed, Dandino’s misfortune at Caulfield could well be the springboard for a glorious Melbourne Cup run with that precious first experience under the belt for horse and jockey.

Fawkner, the winner of the 2013 Caulfield Cup, also looks likely to head to Flemington as Lloyd Williams seeks another famous first Tuesday of November.

For all your Melbourne Cup odds 2013, just follow the link!

“Everything was stacked against him at weights and measures … he’s done a very good job” said Nick Williams after the race.

And with that run went all the fancy prices for the Melbourne Cup, and Llyod William’s former Engliash galloper is now down to $21.00 for the first Tuesday in November. And we still think that’s a fair price. You certainly wouldn’t want to be taking single figure odds about too many horses this far out, that’s for sure.

Mount Athos and Dandino are yet to be sighted this Spring, and alongside Verema and Voleuse De Coeurs, they make up a quartet of talking horses who are being steadily crunched at the odds on the basis of strong racecourse gallops.

We’d rather go with what we see in races rather than what we hear on the grapevine, that’s why there are far worse bets to be had at this stage than a speculative each way punt on a tough horse like Sea Moon.

And if Dandino’s recent gallop is anything to go by Botti has unearthed another Cup candidate.

A winner of a relatively modest $226,000 in his career so far, Dandino is a six year old and a late bloomer on the improve if press reaction is to be believed. Crunched in the Melbourne Cup odds after a recent gallop, the bookies are now offering $21.00 for Botti’s European import to give the trainer his first Melbourne Cup win.

Fiorente still heads the odds for the Cup at $6.00 despite having his regular rider (Rawiller) jocked off after two fast finishing places from seemingly impossible positions round the home turn. Damien Oliver now takes the ride for the Cox Plate and Cup. Hawkspur and Puissance De Lune are next best at the odds at $7.00.

Dandino’s credentials will be firmly put to the test in the 2013 Caulfield Cup, after which Botti will know whether he’s got a serious chance at Cup glory.

Keep up with all the Melbourne Cup odds 2013 by following the link…