Lord Fandango

Fandango’s original owners, Anglo Australian Racing, have decided to sell a 50% interest in the colt.  AAR is a group of ex-pat Aussies that are keen to continue a racing association in Australia while living in the UK.

Fandango is bay colt with grey flecks and stands around 16 hands.  He’s very correct and possesses a smooth flowing walk.  He is wide in the jowl, has good feet and looks like a stayer.  At the trot, again he is fluent and correct.  At the canter, he possesses a long stride and carries his head perfectly.

Fandango has started on 10 occasions, winning twice and placing twice.   Both wins were over 2400m the second (his eighth race start) by 4.5 lengths.

In his last two starts, stepping up into stronger company at Epsom and York, he twice finished 5th.  His runs were more than acceptable and showed him to be a most promising stayer, up over 2800m at York.  Importantly for Australia conditions, Fandango handles a firm track well.

Fandango is a son of Lord Of England, who enjoys great success in Germany. Lord of England was the winner of the Group 1 Munich Grosser Dallmayr Preis. Since going to stud in 2007, he has been a consistent strong producer of top stayers.  Group 1 Hamburg Derby winner, Isfahan, is his best progeny and he was also the sire of Pakal, who we know well at OTI.  Pakal was a Group 3 winner in Germany, Group 1 placed in France and winner of the Listed Cranbourne Cup in Australia.  He garnered genuine excitement upon arrival in Australia.

Fandango is out of the Monsun mare, Fitness.  Monsun has sired three of the last four Melbourne Cup winners – Fiorente, Protectionist and Almandin.  Fitness was a winner in both France and Germany.  She gained black-type status with a placing in Germany before moving to the breeding barn, where she has also been successful.  Fandango is also closely related to the 2014 Cox Plate winner, Adelaide. 

Having already settled in to Archie Alexander’s stable, Fandango will be brought along gradually with the view to getting to the races late Feb/Early March. The length of the colt’s first preparation will depend on his acclimatisation and form. Frequently in their first prep, horses like Fandango, take only two or three runs before being spelled.

In the Spring of 2017, Fandango will still be four in real time. It is likely, given his age and breeding, he’ll be given the chance to work through his grades with the view of being ready for more serious races in 2018. The Spring Carnival will obviously be a major focus that year.