Yankee Rose was one of six trial winners for David Vandyke
Group One star Yankee Rose was one of six trial winners for trainer David Vandyke at the Sunshine Coast this week and he hopes to continue the run at a race meeting on Saturday.
Vandyke moved from Sydney to Queensland 14 months ago and has been an instant success finishing in the top 10 trainers in the metropolitan and state titles.
He intends to increase his presence in the new season starting on Saturday at Doomben with Alpha Beat and Skillful.
In the coming weeks his trial winners will also be hitting the racetrack with Yankee Rose obviously holding most attention.
“Its good to have runners in six trials and win the lot. It would be good to do that race day and let’s hope it starts Saturday,” Vandyke said.
“Yankee Rose only just won the trial at the Sunshine Coast but that is her. She is a clever girl and knows the difference between trials and races.
“The main thing is she was happy and went through the line strongly.”
Yankee Rose, a dual Group One winner, will now head south and trial at Cranbourne on August 21 before beginning her spring campaign.
She is being set for the Group One Memsie Stakes on September 2, the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes on September 16 and the Group One Underwood Stakes on October 1.
“It fits in nicely no matter which way we go – the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate,” he said.
Vandyke confirmed Dean Yendall would ride Yankee Rose during the spring.
“He has been out injured but I spoke with him last night and he will be back and keen soon,” Vandyke said.
Vandyke said he was enjoying training at the moment and looking forward to the new season.
“I don’t think I have enough horses to challenge for a top-three spot on the metropolitan table but I would like to finish in the top six,” he said.
“Of course I am also keen to train another Group One winner this season,” Vandyke said.
Alpha Beat and Skillful both did their early racing in the southern states.
“Alpha Beat has won in three states and as a younger horse took the Adelaide Guineas when trained by Anthony Cummings,” he said.
“But it was just a run first-up. We have claimed three kilograms on him but it is probably a race to see how he goes. I don’t know if a hard track suits really him.”
Vandyke said Skillful was a strong winner for the stable at his first start in Queensland and he had high hopes for him.
