Dandino overcomes traffic in American St Leger

Meanwhile, Dandino tried to get through between horses, but had no room. The

favorite was forced to steady off heels and come around Najjaar, in a

potentially-costly change of plan. By that point, Suntracer was closing stoutly

widest of all.

Despite the initial loss of both ground and momentum, Dandino regrouped in

short order and quickened smartly in a few strides. Outkicking Suntracer to the

wire, Dandino completed 1 11/16 grassy miles in 2:50 3/5 and compensated his

many backers with $3.60, $3 and $2.40 for their brief scare.

"I was locked in the whole race, but he was the best horse," Moore said. "He

picked it up natural. I thought I'd keep it simple, but they were on top of me

the whole race."

Suntracer checked in three-quarters of a length clear of Najjaar, who edged

Code of Conduct by a head for third. Wigmore Hall and Ioya Bigtime concluded the

order of finish. Ojos de Hielo was distanced.

Dandino's third career stakes victory improved his record to 25-8-8-1,

$985,670. Originally trained by James Given for breeder Elite Racing Club, the

son of Dansili compiled a four-race winning streak as a sophomore, capped by a

major handicap -- the King George V -- at Royal Ascot. His skein ended with a

near-miss second in the 2010 Gordon at Glorious Goodwood, and he went on to

finish off the board in both the St Leger and Japan Cup.

Dandino scored a stakes breakthrough in the 2011 Jockey Club at Newmarket,

but his form tailed off in three subsequent starts at four. Transferred to James

Fanshawe for 2012, the dark bay placed in the Further Flight, Fred Archer and

Glorious Stakes before capturing the September Stakes over Kempton's Polytrack.

Invading Woodbine for last October's Canadian International, Dandino was a

fast-finishing second to Joshua Tree, with the wire coming a fraction too soon

for him. He next tried the Hong Kong Vase, where he was beaten 3 1/4 lengths in

seventh.

Dandino was purchased by his Australian connections over the winter. In his

debut for Botti, the six-year-old was outdueled by Universal by a neck in the

May 4 Jockey Club. Dandino had raced once n the interim, finishing second to the

ill-fated Thomas Chippendale in the Hardwicke, but turning the tables on

third-placer Universal.

Stablemate Jakkalberry went on to place third in the 2012 Melbourne Cup after

his Arlington heroics. Plans call for Dandino to go Down Under for the Caulfield

Cup en route to the Melbourne feature.

The British-bred was produced by the winning Generous mare Generous Diana.

Dandino's second dam, Lypharitissima, is an unraced full sister to 1985 French

Oaks heroine Lypharita.

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