After winning by three lengths at his career debut at Geelong in January, Adandiman was highly enough regarded by trainer Mitch Freedman to tackle the Group II Caulfield Autumn Classic at his third start.
While he did not strike a blow there, the son of Dandino (GB) looks to have a bright future judging on his courageous all-the-way victory over 1400m at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
With Tahlia Hope in the saddle, Dandino was coming away in the closing stages to defeat Little Miss Gutsaa (So You Think) by one and a quarter lengths with the favourite Blazerro (Pierro) a long head back in third.
Freedman said the decision to ride Adandiman positively was the key.
“The track walked that way, and we wanted to be positive,” Freedman said.
“He was a bit sticky away the other day, we had to go back, and he was strong through the line.
“He likes to build his gallop. He was building down the hill and was able to hold them off.
“He wanted to get away from the fence and still has a few things to learn.
“He had that ability as a three-year-old, but we were trying to ride him quiet and get him out over further. He just likes to roll and gallop, and when he gets that, he is hard to get past.”
A homebred for Darren and Liz Dance, Adandiman becomes the first metropolitan winner for Dandino (GB) who also carried the fluorescent yellow silks of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.
They had purchased his dam Mumbeilly for $80,000 at the 2010 NZB Select Yearling Sale.
A winner at Ballarat and Pakenham, Mumbeilly placed six times on metropolitan tracks when trained by Peter Moody.
Adandiman is the first live foal of the daughter of O’Reilly, who hails from the family of the grand racemare Silver Chalice whose six Group wins are headed by the Group 1 WRC Thorndon Mile.
Griffiths de Kock Racing / Peter Ford T'Breds (FBAA) / Heywood Bloodstock wen to $180,000 for Mumbeilly’s Pariah filly at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing to Kermadec in 2019, Mumbeilly foaled an I Am Immortal colt on September 30.
Adandiman is one of nine home-breds for Darren and Liz Dance’s Esker Lodge.
They also race the promising Dandino filly Quick ‘n’ Dandy, who broke her maiden by almost four lengths at Wangaratta in June. Trained by Archie Alexander, Quick ‘n’ Dandy was spelled after finishing fourth behind So You Assume at Sandown Hillside in July before that daughter of So You Think won the Group II Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Dandino (GB) stands at Bombora Downs for a fee of $5,500 (inc gst).
