Gypsy off to Eagle first-up
Vandyke’s bold plan for $10m race
DAVID Vandyke is leaving no stone unturned as he looks to wind back the clock and pull off a training masterstroke with his Group 1 winner Gypsy Goddess.
The astute trainer famously came within a half-length of winning the Golden Slipper with Yankee Rose first-up off a four-month break in 2016 and is looking to pull off a similar feat with Gypsy Goddess in the $10m Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 29.
In order to cross every “T” and dot every “I”, Vandyke had Sydney jockey Willie Pike jet into the Sunshine Coast on Sunday to ride the Tarzino mare in a four-horse jumpout between races.
It proved to be a vital exercise, with Vandyke saying the Queensland Oaks winner wasn’t quite up to the mark she needed to be at to perform at a top level in Sydney.
“It was great for him to come up. He wasn’t talking her up too much – he called a spade a spade, which I liked,” Vandyke said.
“I think it was a nice step forward from the easy trial she had a few weeks ago.
“She is not up to the mark yet. The important things were she felt good and recovered well so we can march forward to Sydney.
“She will have a trial down there and then head into the Golden Eagle and I might put the blinkers back on.”
Six years on, Vandyke stands by his Golden Slipper preparation with Yankee Rose and is steadfast in his belief that the one-off run in the 1500m Golden Eagle is within reach for Gypsy Goddess.
“I got beat a neck in the Golden Slipper by Capitalist but I don’t think it would have mattered how many starts we had before that race, we wouldn’t have won it,” he said.
“We were chasing hard and running home strong. I thought 1200m first-up was ideal for Yankee Rose and I think 1500m is ideal for Gypsy.
“The longer I train, the more experience I have, I think I make less mistakes.”
Pike, who has enjoyed a strong association with Gypsy Goddess, said the mare had not lost any of her ability after the Queensland Oaks victory.
“I can happily say she is the same horse she was when I rode her last time,” he said. “To get back on her, for myself to have a feel and make sure both David and I were happy.
“I think she is sharp enough for the Golden Eagle. It is a good idea to tackle that race first-up.”
Gypsy Goddess is $15 in Golden Eagle betting.