Memory lane for trainer over name

TRAINER David Vandyke has every reason to be feeling a bit nostalgic as Constant Flight lines up for his race debut in the Lismore opener today.

A racehorse by the same name provided Vandyke with his very first Group winner in 1993 and the trainer’s father, Vic Hayes, also had a handy galloper with that name some 20 years earlier.

“I’ve been waiting for the name to come up again,’’ Vandyke said.

“Scott Darby from Darby Bloodstock purchased this colt as a yearling ($220,000 at the Magic Millions) and the deal was it could race in his colours and I could name him.’’

Vandyke is hoping Constant Flight has some of the ability of his namesake, a filly who beat a stellar field to win the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes 24 years ago.

“Yankee Rose is the bestperformed horse I have ever trained but Constant Flight, as far as ability goes, was right up there.

“She was my first Group winner and beat a stellar field that year, including March Hare, Arborea and Fraternity.’’

Constant Flight, the “newlook” version, missed his debut racing season due to immaturity but Vandyke said the three-year-old colt is ready for the Lismore race.

“He is quite a slow-maturing horse both mentally and physically,’’ Vandyke said.

“But he has gone very well winning two barrier trials and form out of his recent trial is exceptional.”