Regardless of what Less Is More achieves in his racing career, it’s doubtful he will ever replace Lamasery as trainer David Vandyke’s favourite horse.
Vandyke and Lamasery’s owners made an emotionally-charged decision to retire the gelding after he finished ninth in last Saturday’s Doomben Cup.
“It was a very sad day last Sunday, more than I thought it would be actually, when he reached our decision,” Vandyke said.
“There won’t be a horse than can replace Lamasery for me.
“He was the foundation horse for my current training career and irrespective of what comes along and how good they turn out to be, there’ll only be one Lamasery.”
Less Is More signalled he is on the threshold of black-type success when he won over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on May 13 and drops from 57.5kg to 54kg in Saturday’s Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben.
“He’s come good at the right time and he should be a good show on Saturday,” Vandyke said.
“It’s not ideal stepping up from a mile to 2200 metres however he’s been in work a while and I feel he’s better suited over that distance.”
Vandyke admitted he was unsure what to expect from Less Is More before he won at Eagle Farm after the gelding’s unflattering return in the Doncaster Prelude at Randwick when he finished 14th to Skyerush.
“There were a couple of serious queries after he put in a below-par performance first-up and I was delighted to see him find the line as well as he did at Eagle Farm,” he said.
Less Is More’s main aim during the winter carnival is the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
If Less Is More finishes in the placings in the Brisbane Cup he will pass an important qualifying clause for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Vandyke believes the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) at Randwick during the spring carnival is a realistic goal for Less Is More if he races up to his expectations in the Brisbane Cup.
